Sanjae Sterling, STAR Writer

Residents of Lorimers in Trelawny are claiming that they are being held 'ransom' by Jamaica Public Service (JPS) workers until 20 men from the area write and sign letters of apology following the theft of electrical wires in that community.

The residents said that the JPS workmen are refusing to 'give them light' because some of the company's power lines were stolen. Residents said that although the culprits who stole the power lines returned them, the workmen are still refusing to return electricity to the area.

"Wi nuh have no light, wi nuh have nuh current. It seems like somebody cut off the JPS wire and then bring it back come put dung. The people dem seh dem talk to the JPS several times and nuh get nuh good answer," one resident said.

VOICE OUTRAGE

Peter Richards, a resident, says he was so angered by the behaviour of the workmen that he decided to voice his outrage on a radio station after being told to deliver the letter to the Mandeville branch of the utility company.

"According to dem (referring to the workmen), 20 man need fi write an apology to di company. Even di meter reader come and say, unnu want light? Unnu better carry in the man weh thief di wire dem guh Mandeville."

"Suh it look like dem wah sabotage wi," he says.

Richards added that although he has made the situation public, electricity has not been returned to the community. He also says that interactions between the JPS workers and members of his community had not changed.

"Even after dat, pon Saturday I understand that the JPS truck came in at the entrance to Lorimers and they asked the men if they would be returning light and di man kiss him teeth and drive off," he said.

Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) councillor for the area, Steve Warren, said that he knew of the power lines being stolen in the community. However, he said that he was unaware of the request for the apology letters.

"We are aware of what is taking place in the community; it is the Hillsixty area. I have heard of the incident; the service lines were removed from the Hillsixty area," he said.

Sandra Mendez, another member of the community, told The STAR says that she would be writing the letter of apology to the JPS, to alleviate the tension between workers of the company and her community.

WRITE NO LETTERS

However, Winsome Callum, head of corporate communication for the JPS, said that residents of the community should not write the letters of apology as this is not the company's policy.

"I am not aware of the situation. Yes, we are challenged by people who steal light. In terms of restoration policy, our policy is to get light to our customers as quickly as possible after a hurricane. They should report the situation to the office. If one and two persons claim to be representatives of the JPS, they should report it to the parish manager. The customers are getting power as we speak, it has nothing to do with an apology," she said.