PM Meets with JPSCO on Service Interruption Issue

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller convened a meeting on Wednesday, May 14, with officials from the Jamaica Public Service Company Limited, JPSCo, in the wake of the company’s decision to interrupt service to communities in which it is experiencing up to 70% theft of electricity.

The meeting, held at Jamaica House, was attended by Government Ministers Omar Davies, Horace Dalley, Sandrea Falconer, State Minister Julian Robinson and the Attorney General, as well as Executives of the JPSCo.

Prime Minister Simpson Miller made it clear that the government does not support the theft of electricity. However, she urged the JPSCo to find a way to deal with the matter of illegal connections without punishing customers who are paying for the service.

“Legitimate customers cannot be forced to suffer for those who break the law,” the Prime Minister said.

For its part, the JPSCo expressed regret at not having dialogue with the government prior to its decision and also apologized to its paying customers who were affected by the action taken.

The meeting agreed to the establishment of a joint Government/JPSCo Committee under the chairmanship of the Minister of State in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Julian Robinson, to look at a range of solutions to the theft of electricity and related matters. The Committee will have its first meeting next week.