The Editor, Sir:It is with great distress and disgust to hear the recent announcement made by a JPS official, stating that an increase in the rate of electricity is forthcoming, because of Hurricane Dean. This brings to mind "taxation without representation."
The questions I would like to ask JPS are:
(1) Are they not in the same boat as other utility companies that were affected d by Hurricane Dean? (2) And this being the case, is it not reasonable for other companies to declare that they will be raising their rates and if they all do, would not this place more financial and other burdens on an already over-taxed populace?JPS, like other companies representing the service-orientated utility core, is operating to make a profit and publishes annually the billions of dollars their profit margins are, so why should the people of Jamaica pay more to give JPS a larger profit margin? It is their company, they spend money to make money, and they make a tremendous amount, so why should the people of Jamaica guarantee JPS undue success in their business venture?
Other companies have to bear the burden of profit and loss and JPS must be the only company that is guaranteed profit and no loss. Why is JPS being allowed to monopolise? Is this good for the country? Where is the vision? And I quote, "Where there is no vision the people suffer." ?
Can the Government and the OUR explain to the people of Jamaica why they have taken such a spineless stand? We the people are still paying for Hurricane Ivan, now Dean, and suppose Errol come along? Mind-boggling isn't it!
I am, etc.,
L.G. ELLIOTT@yahoo.com
