Dear Editor,
One of the most outrageous, if not the most outrageous news items to have emerged recently was the Jamaica Public Service Company's new anti-theft strategy. According to the company, it has now embarked on a policy whereby the company will be cutting the number of hours of electricity it provides to communities where more than 70 per cent of the electricity supply is stolen.
While it is a well known fact the power and light company has struggled over the years to reduce the incidence of theft, certainly this discriminatory policy is not the way to move forward. This misguided policy also seeks to punish those customers who are up-to-date with their accounts by providing them with only 12 hours daily supply of electricity.
This cannot be right, ethical or fair. What are the rights of the paying customers of the Jamaica Public Service Company? Aren't these rights being infringed upon by reducing power to these customers to 12 hours daily? What about the schools and places of business which are located in these areas? It is clear that the long-term implications of this extreme policy have not been thought through properly. What about the morgues, hospitals, health centres, and police stations?
The policy is discriminatory in principle since it targets specific geographical areas, such as Trench Town, Denham Town, Olympic Court off Waltham Park Road, sections of Spanish Town Road and Maxfield Avenue. The flawed policy appears not to have much legal footing and should be challenged in the courts if the company does not withdraw it immediately.
The Jamaica Public Service Company needs to be reminded that electricity theft also occurs in uptown in gated communities as well. Discrimination is alive and well in the 21st century
in Jamaica.
It is clear the Jamaica Public Service Company is at the frustration level. However, their customers should not be penalised nor called upon to bear the brunt of their lack of vision.
A significant part of the problem is the freeness mentality which has been cultivated over the years and which has found support from the political directorate. We are clearly in a crisis mode and this calls for leadership.
If ever there were a policy that is indefensible this is it. This anti-theft strategy needs to be revisited and alternative measures found to deal with and reduce the incidence of electricity theft.
Wayne Campbell
waykam@yahoo.com
www.wayaine.blogspot.com
12 hours of 'darkness' outrageous
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One of the most outrageous, if not the most outrageous news items to have emerged recently was the Jamaica Public Service Company's new anti-theft strategy. According to the company, it has now embarked on a policy whereby the company will be cutting the number of hours of electricity it provides to communities where more than 70 per cent of the electricity supply is stolen.
While it is a well known fact the power and light company has struggled over the years to reduce the incidence of theft, certainly this discriminatory policy is not the way to move forward. This misguided policy also seeks to punish those customers who are up-to-date with their accounts by providing them with only 12 hours daily supply of electricity.
This cannot be right, ethical or fair. What are the rights of the paying customers of the Jamaica Public Service Company? Aren't these rights being infringed upon by reducing power to these customers to 12 hours daily? What about the schools and places of business which are located in these areas? It is clear that the long-term implications of this extreme policy have not been thought through properly. What about the morgues, hospitals, health centres, and police stations?
The policy is discriminatory in principle since it targets specific geographical areas, such as Trench Town, Denham Town, Olympic Court off Waltham Park Road, sections of Spanish Town Road and Maxfield Avenue. The flawed policy appears not to have much legal footing and should be challenged in the courts if the company does not withdraw it immediately.
The Jamaica Public Service Company needs to be reminded that electricity theft also occurs in uptown in gated communities as well. Discrimination is alive and well in the 21st century
in Jamaica.
It is clear the Jamaica Public Service Company is at the frustration level. However, their customers should not be penalised nor called upon to bear the brunt of their lack of vision.
A significant part of the problem is the freeness mentality which has been cultivated over the years and which has found support from the political directorate. We are clearly in a crisis mode and this calls for leadership.
If ever there were a policy that is indefensible this is it. This anti-theft strategy needs to be revisited and alternative measures found to deal with and reduce the incidence of electricity theft.
Wayne Campbell
waykam@yahoo.com
www.wayaine.blogspot.com
12 hours of 'darkness' outrageous
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