Forget competition, implement better electricity regulations

THE EDITOR, Sir:

As a lifetime student of economics, I hasten to agree with Dr Carlton Davis that the size of the market for the consumption of electricity is too small for competition, and if there is going to be a second supplier, that supplier would have to satisfy the authorities of the viability of more than one supplier. What I think the public needs is the authorities to provide proper safeguards against injustice being meted out to it by any supplier.

I do not, however, agree that Dr Davis, as adviser to the Government, should have made his opinion public, while the relevant minister seems to think that competition is a perfect fit in this case, and perhaps in every case, and seems to forget all decisions must be in the best interest of the people.

In this case, it cannot be in the best interest of the people if because of competition, rivals become bankrupt and the people have no electricity.

Energy Minister Phillip Paulwell, we need some critical thinking here, for which you are well known. Mind you, I think you have always been a great minister, but you are wrong this time, because to err is human and so, you deserve forgiveness.

OWEN S. CROSBIE

oss@cwjamaica.com

Mandeville, Manchester