News

Government agencies left in the dark

By GLENROY SINCLAIR AND BARBARA GAYLE, Staff Reporters

A NUMBER OF Government agencies were left in the dark for several hours yesterday after their electricity was disconnected by the Jamaica Public Service (JPSCo), for the non-payment of bills which amounted to over $69 million.

But quick action by some of the respective ministries saved some of the agencies from major embarrassment. Among the services affected were that of the Supreme and Family Courts in downtown Kingston, the Elletson Road Police Complex and the Traffic and Repairs Division in Swallowfield, Kingston.

"The services were restored yesterday. We have worked out a mutual arrangement with the JPS," Gil Scott, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security told THE STAR yesterday.

But, according to the JPS, the disconnections took place after the Ministries of National Security and Justice failed to deliver on their commitments to make payments on the accounts, and after JPS had delivered letters giving deadlines for payment of the arrears and warning of the consequences of non-payment.

The proceedings in the Supreme Court were disrupted yesterday. Although there is a new standby generator at the Supreme Court building, the generator did not chip in until 11.30 a.m. Court officials said the electricity at the court building was disconnected from 9 p.m. on Monday.

Policemen complained yesterday that they had a difficult time processing the prisoners for court. "We have to search the prisoners, write up their cards and we don't even have flashlights or candles to aid us," a policeman said. It is understood that the electricity at the Supreme Court was disconnected for a bill of $25 million.

THE STAR learnt that the bill owed by the police amounted to over $20 million. The Elletson Road Police Complex which houses several police departments owed $2.5 million.