Dear Editor,
I have been in dialogue with the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) for over one year concerning an entity which is in clear violation of section 4A of the OUR Act.
Section 4A states, inter alia, that an entity or individual who wishes to provide a prescribed utility service must obtain a licence signed by the minister. This entity has been supplying water in breach of the law and this situation had been brought to the attention of the OUR.
The OUR has stated that this entity is not licensed by the OUR, therefore, the OUR cannot act against it.
I am completely bewildered by this assertion.
Am I to conclude that, in all instances where the law states that a licence is required, all one has to do is to ignore the law and nothing can be done because one is not licensed to begin with? Or is it that certain laws only apply to people in the lower echelons of society?
I find it hard to imagine a person operating a taxi without the requisite licence being given free rein by the Transport Authority and the police, with the explanation that the vehicle was not licensed in the first place, therefore no action can be taken.
If this is the kind of logic that guides those entrusted with the protection of the interests of all Jamaicans, especially the most vulnerable among us, then we are facing dire straits as a country.
Phillip Ireland
irelandphilip@yahoo.com
I have been in dialogue with the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) for over one year concerning an entity which is in clear violation of section 4A of the OUR Act.
Section 4A states, inter alia, that an entity or individual who wishes to provide a prescribed utility service must obtain a licence signed by the minister. This entity has been supplying water in breach of the law and this situation had been brought to the attention of the OUR.
The OUR has stated that this entity is not licensed by the OUR, therefore, the OUR cannot act against it.
I am completely bewildered by this assertion.
Am I to conclude that, in all instances where the law states that a licence is required, all one has to do is to ignore the law and nothing can be done because one is not licensed to begin with? Or is it that certain laws only apply to people in the lower echelons of society?
I find it hard to imagine a person operating a taxi without the requisite licence being given free rein by the Transport Authority and the police, with the explanation that the vehicle was not licensed in the first place, therefore no action can be taken.
If this is the kind of logic that guides those entrusted with the protection of the interests of all Jamaicans, especially the most vulnerable among us, then we are facing dire straits as a country.
Phillip Ireland
irelandphilip@yahoo.com