Rayon Dyer, Gleaner Writer

BLACK RIVER, St. Elizabeth:

Swee Chua, vice-president of commercial services at the Jamaica Public Service Company Ltd. (JPS), has informed the St. Elizabeth Parish Council that no new street lights will be installed in the parish until an outstanding $11.8 million bill for street lighting is paid.

The JPS's stance was put on the table during Thursday's monthly general meeting of the council in Black River.

"The balance on the account of the council as at March 14, 2007 is $11,781,217.86, of which $3,491,848.39 is current and $8,289,369.47 is in arrears. No payment was made to this account since January, resulting in the increase in arrears," Mr. Chua said in a letter to the council dated March 16.

The letter further stated: "I am sure that you understand our need to collect on a timely basis. In order to continue to serveyou, we require that the current balance be settled in full within a speedy time frame. In addition, going forward, the account must be kept current."

Seeking speedy resolution

In response to the letter, the councillors in attendance said they wanted a speedy resolution to the matter in order to ensure the resumption of the installation of some 101 new street lights in the parish, including all 15 parish council divisions. The councillors indicated that they were surprised that such a large sum was owed to the light and power company.

Independent councillor for the Myersville division, Winston Sinclair, has advised the council to write a letter to the JPS seeking a 20 per cent waiver on the sum owing which could see the council moving ahead to deal with the installation of the outstanding street lights in the parish.

Efforts to get a comment from the JPS's corporate office on whether or not the account in question had been settled failed to get an immediate response.