Mad rush to legalise electricity connections
May 10, 2006
THOUSANDS of people yesterday crowded Jamaica Public Service Company offices islandwide, in a last-minute attempt to legalise their electricity connections on the last day of the one-month amnesty offered by the light and power company.
Customer care manager at the downtown Kingston office of the JPS, Evan Gordon, said that the crowd that descended on the offices both Monday and yesterday was overwhelming. She said the turnout of customers who wanted to legitimise their services was beyond expectation.
"Yesterday's crowd was even greater. We had a huge line of applicants snaking around onto Sutton Street and as far back as the telephone company," Gordon said.
She said that following damage to a counter inside the building on Monday, the JPS' security manager yesterday worked with guards and plain clothes police officers to ensure that order was maintained yesterday. "If the police was not here this morning I guarantee you the entire front glass and door would be broken through, by the applicants," Gordon said yesterday.
She said several of the persons had their applications stamped and were given interview dates for next week because of the high number of application forms that would have to be assessed.
In the meantime, the JPS' director for regional operations, Garth McKenzie, said that he was pleased with the number of applications received during the period of the amnesty.
"We are satisfied that so many people have initiated acceptance of the amnesty, but I want to make it clear that this does not mean we are writing off anything. neither are we forgetting the debts. What we are doing is to taking a compromised approach," said McKenzie.
Several people who spoke with the Observer yesterday, while waiting in line, said they waited for the last minute as they thought it would be easier....
Author: Paul Clarke
Source: Jamaica Observer
