Erica Virtue, Staff Reporter
EMPLOYEE abuse has forced the National Water Commission (NWC) to stop a major leak in its operations, when it pulled the plug on telephone services to several of its sub-stations across the island.
The sub-stations, some of which have run up thousands of dollars in telephone bills, some in excess of $20,000, are now without service "for unaccounted for long distance and overseas calls".
Individuals at two rural facilities pointed out that at their sub-station, unpaid bills of $18,000 and $20,000 have stemmed the flow at those locations. The action on the part of the employees has caused the NWC to be indebted to Cable and Wireless Jamaica (C&WJ) for more than $200,000, for carried-over and current bills The Sunday Gleaner was told.
A source close to the matter said telephone service "will not be restored in the early or late foreseeable future."
Information from the utility company last week indicates that the NWC has upgraded and broadened its radio network system, which will be installed in all sub-stations previously without a communication system.
Where there was a system and it has 'run down' it will be upgraded and put back in operation, the source said.
"Unaccounted for telephone bills" is said to be a long-standing one, and several attempts have been made to rectify the situation previously with no success.
It is further understood that in some instances, NWC workers have been made to pay for telephone usage when investigations revealed that calls were made on specific shifts and individuals were identified. However, unions representing some of the workers have often defended them and allowed them to get away "scot free" even when it is known that they are the guilty ones, Sunday Gleaner sources said.
Public relations officer, Charles Bucha-nan, admitted last week that the company has had such a problem.
"I know that from time to time, telephone costs have been looked at and restrictions have been made in terms of what calls can be allowed for, and so on -- whether long distance calls can be made or whether calls may be limited to specific NWC facilities," Mr. Buchanan said.
He explained that in the past, service has been restricted at some facilities, where they only receive calls. On the matter of the "recent" decision to disconnect service, he said, "I cannot speak to any action which has been taken recently, I will have to make some checks."
But, according to him, the issue is something the company has gone through on several occasions in the life of the company. He said that the action of the workers "in some instances it is abuse, or just indiscreet usage with people sometimes not as concerned about the cost implications as they should be. So you put in place something."
Mr. Buchanan, said the company has had much difficulty holding anyone responsible, because of what he calls "problems with the unions," but admitted that "it has happened where the NWC has been sufficiently certain who the culprits are."
Asked if the NWC's operation will be affected in any way with only radio communication, he said, "the radio system was sufficiently efficient to carry out the company's functions."
Mr. Buchanan said for some time the NWC had been looking at all the company's costs, and was seeking to ensure that in all areas costs are accounted for and represents efficient use of its resources.
