Commentary

Paying for what you don't use

TUESDAY'S GLEANER SPOKE about an increase in light bills come September.

According to the story, the tariff will be an automatic one because of inflation.

To be frank, most Jamaicans have no idea what inflation is and how it affects their daily lives. The only thing they know is that an increase in their light bills will mean a rise in the hardships they already face.

For most of us, the fact that $1000 this year cannot do as much as it could do last year (which is what inflation is in a nutshell), is little or no excuse for increasing our light bills.

As far as Jamaicans are concerned, the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPSCo) needs to start clamping down harder on communities where light is abstracted and no one bothers to pay his or her electricity bills.

Admittedly, JPSCo has been bringing to book persons who are guilty of abstracting electricity and for that they should be commended. But, for most of us, this process is moving too slowly as those of us who pay are subsidising these people who continue to steal light.

While an announcement about paying more money will never be welcomed, resistance will be even greater given the current situation that exists when it comes to electricity in Jamaica.