THE EDITOR, Sir:
I REMEMBER as a child when I read The Gleaner that carried news of an accident whereby persons who were working in the large pipes that channelled water to generate electricity along the Bog Walk Road were killed, as this water was accidentally turned on while they were still working in those large pipes.
Things changed, it is said for the better, and such system of electricity production has been abandoned being replaced by plants using imported fuel etc. The agency set to regulate and keep in check the rise in cost is hopeless. Whenever an increase is applied for it is very seldom turned down and if turned down it is more like a postponement for another date in some other form.
Fuel produces electricity and where fuel is used directly, for instance by vehicles, the cost of transportation, transporting goods, or services is added to whatever is produced or transported.
Alternate energy sources are needed. We may consider: solar energy (from the Sun); wind farming; hydroelectricity (utilising our rivers); biogas (using organic matter).
In Jamaica we never lack beautiful sunshine, there is always water running in our rivers except where authorities fail to do proper river training and diverting the river water to other areas for some other purposes.
We have lots of hills, areas with strong breezes. There are tons of organic materials in waste matter, which become problematic to find dumping grounds. Why not use it to produce gas instead.
Once Jamaica decides to utilise indigenous resources as mentioned, it is my humble opinion that engineers and such persons required to draft the types of equipment/machinery required can be sourced right here in Jamaica.
By implementing the above, Jamaica would be able to put Jamaicans to work, obtain better profit margins, pay better salaries, and quite likely there would be decline in our crime rate.
I am, etc.,
B.ST.E. ANGLIN
Ensom City
Spanish Town
