Private Enterpise vs. Public Interest

[Blackstar*]

JPS equipment being shipped off - Mullings
published: Friday | August 4, 2006


The Opposition is claiming that equipment from the Jamaica Public Service Company Ltd. (JPS) has been shipped overseas to improve external generating interests of Atlanta-based 80 per cent shareholder Mirant.

Clive Mullings, Opposition spokesman with responsibility for energy, said yesterday that the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) and Phillip Paulwell, the Minister of Industry, Technology, Energy and Commerce, should immediately take steps to ensure that all equipment and the plant remain intact at all JPS company stations.

Plant should remain intact

"Given the fact that Mirant is advertising for sale their shares in the JPS, every effort must be made to ensure that the existing plant remains intact and that the interest of the people of Jamaica are protected," Mr. Mullings said in a release.

However, the JPS has denied the claims by Mr. Mullings.

Winsome Callum, head of corporate communications at the JPS, told The Gleaner yesterday that "in order to ensure the delivery of reliable service to customers, it has always been the company's policy to seek the service of the very best to carry out repairs to its equipment, locally and overseas."

She added: "It is in this context only, that any shipment of JPS equipment takes place."

David Geddes, OUR director of consumer and public affairs, said yesterday that "on the face of it" the issue did not appear to be a regulatory issue, but rather an issue for the Energy Minister to handle.

He added that the OUR's responsibility is to regulate the service that is provided by the utility company.

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Private Enterpise vs. Public Interest

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JPS equipment being shipped off - Mullings
published: Friday | August 4, 2006

She added: "It is in this context only, that any shipment of JPS equipment takes place."

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Migrant/JPS borrowed US$180Mil a minute before they put up the Company for sale, now they appear to be surreptitiously dismantling the place. Only under this Government.

[Blackstar*]

Re: Private Enterpise vs. Public Interest

JPS denies claim it plans to move equipment overseas
Observer Reporter
Saturday, August 05, 2006

THE Jamaica Public Service has denied claims by the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party that it planned to move some of its equipment from Jamaica to boost Mirant's other electricity plants overseas.

"In order to ensure the delivery of reliable service to customers, it has always been the company's policy to seek the service of the very best to carry out repairs to its equipment, locally and overseas. It is in this context only, that any shipment of JPS equipment takes place.

"JPS' number one priority is to provide reliable electricity service to the people of Jamaica, and the company will therefore continue to make the business decisions necessary to support this objective," the light and power company said in a statement.

More...

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Private Enterpise vs. Public Interest

[ QUOTE ]
JPS denies claim it plans to move equipment overseas
Observer Reporter
Saturday, August 05, 2006

THE Jamaica Public Service has denied claims by the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party that it planned to move some of its equipment from Jamaica to boost Mirant's other electricity plants overseas.

"In order to ensure the delivery of reliable service to customers, it has always been the company's policy to seek the service of the very best to carry out repairs to its equipment, locally and overseas. It is in this context only, that any shipment of JPS equipment takes place.

"JPS' number one priority is to provide reliable electricity service to the people of Jamaica, and the company will therefore continue to make the business decisions necessary to support this objective," the light and power company said in a statement.

More...

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Yu believe Migrant/JPS?
I hope suh, but I am betting it’s otherwise.

[Blackstar*]

Re: Private Enterpise vs. Public Interest

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On placing JPS in foreign hands
published: Monday | August 7, 2006

The Editor, Sir:

Aside from its people, a country's electrical supply is the single most important resource for growth and development. Without an efficient supplier of electrical power, the productive, manufacturing, education and health sectors would be greatly affected. Given that the JPS is a monopoly, the majority ownership of this company should either be placed in the hands of a private sector entity/entities and/or in the hands of the Government. Why? Because it is far too risky, from several perspectives, to place the JPS in foreign hands.

Moreover, foreign companies should be limited to purchasing no more than 10 per cent of shares in the JPS. The Government has a duty to protect the people of Jamaica and one of the most effective ways of doing so is to ensure that the country's sole supplier of electricity is locally owned.

I am, etc.,

PATRICK A. GALLIMORE
[email protected]

Link

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[Blackstar*]

Re: Private Enterpise vs. Public Interest

[ QUOTE ]
Yu believe Migrant/JPS?
I hope suh, but I am betting it’s otherwise.

[/ QUOTE ]
They've issued a very carefully worded statement that says nothing at all and certainly raises more questions than it answers. Basically they don't deny shipping equipment abroad, and if they do it is only for repairs.

It would be interesting to have some specifics over the past 5 years or so re. the "company's policy to seek the service of the very best to carry out repairs to its equipment, locally and overseas". Has the number of shipments abroad increased all of a sudden? How old is the equipment and what is its maintenance record? Are they repairing equipment to make JPS more attractive for sale? Etc., etc.

Excuse my ignorance, but isn't there a government or consumers watchdog whom Mirant/JPS answer to and if so, why are they so quiet on the "sell-off"?

[evanovitch]

Re: Private Enterpise vs. Public Interest




New town planned for Clarendon on hold

ALICIA DUNKLEY, Observer staff reporter
Tuesday, August 08, 2006



HENRY. says the Government had shifted focus because of Harmony Cove
The proposed new town development for lands at Inverness Clarendon, one of several millennium projects announced by former Prime Minister Patterson to complement Highway 2000, has ground to a standstill.

According to communication received from senior general manager of construction and development at the National Housing Trust (NHT) Donald Moore "... the plans for the majority of the property are on hold".

The new town was expected to accommodate over 150,000 people over 20 years, according to developers the NHT.

But checks with the NHT revealed that following the announcement, the unit in charge of the Highway 2000 Corridor Development Plan in the Office of the Prime Minister recommended that the land be rezoned to reflect the change of use.

"Former Prime Minister P J Patterson had announced plans for the development of the lands... subsequently the Highway 2000 Corridor Development Plan recommended a change of land use... this is to be confirmed by the National Environment and Planning Agency," Moore said.

When the Observer contacted the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), we were told that although they are aware of the recommendations by the unit, which is proposing "a change of use for the lands along the entire highway corridor", no official document has been received from the unit to allow the agency to make its own recommendations.

According to NEPA, the unit had proposed that all the lands along the highway corridor, including the lands at Inverness, be rezoned, which would affect the plans for the new town development.

But member of parliament for Central Clarendon Mike Henry told the Observer that he had doubts about the reasons being forwarded for the delay.

"I don't believe that's a genuine excuse, the Government assured the development process, that it was farming area land that had been identified," Henry said. According to Henry, an environmental problem was the reason the plans had stalled.

"There could only be one reason; I understand that they had some environmental problems and there was some discussion about the environmental impact on the land on which they were going to build the new town, but as we speak it is definitely not being pursued by the Government as assiduously as it should be, and we are raising questions about it," Henry said.

According to Henry, the Government had "shifted its focus because of Harmony Cove and had not pursued the new town development".

Harmony Grove is an upscale resort development planned by the Government for Trelawny. The 2,400- acre beachfront property will be developed to house three large hotels, another three smaller, more intimate hotels, villas, 200 upscale residences, a private airport, a marina and two championship golf courses.
Henry said he would be calling on the Government to declare its intentions regarding the new town when he makes his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in Parliament.
"I intend to raise it again, we basically need to know from the Government whether they are going ahead with the new town and also the development of Vernamfield and the whole corridor that speaks to the toll road being put in place," he said. "The question is what has happened to the elaborate plans for the whole development process?"

Henry also said that if the development was not pursued the Government would not be able to attract the usage to make the highway profitable.

At the time he made the announcement in 2003, then Prime Minister Patterson had said the project fell within the macro planning for the south coast of the island in the bid to provide an alternative focus and absorb much of the future growth beyond the Kingston Metropolitan area; reduce population pressure on the major urban areas and facilitate commuting from urban areas to the city.

The property has been described as the last undisturbed tract of marginal agricultural land in the country.

The new town, which would cover 4,400 hectares of land, was expected to offer the market 24,880 residences inclusive of 17,000 mixed housing solutions; 3,000 townhouses; 4,880 apartments; 32 elementary schools, eight high schools; a hospital and a stadium.

[Gen]

Re: Private Enterpise vs. Public Interest

this whole article lass mi [img]/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

wouldn't it be cheaper to have the equipment fixed in JA rather than shipping it abroad [img]/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

can smaddy bruk dung the gist and underlying story in the article ..please [img]/forums/images/graemlins/70367-help.gif[/img] mi head a gather wata [img]/forums/images/graemlins/70361-embarassed.gif[/img]

[Gen]

Re: Private Enterpise vs. Public Interest

Harmony Cove or whatevah..do we really need 3 more large hotel, airport and marina [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img] are there stats to show that there is a shortage of hotel rooms ?

why not just build the mixed housing and leff it at that [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

[Blackstar*]

Re: Private Enterpise vs. Public Interest

[ QUOTE ]
this whole article lass mi [img]/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

wouldn't it be cheaper to have the equipment fixed in JA rather than shipping it abroad [img]/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

can smaddy bruk dung the gist and underlying story in the article ..please [img]/forums/images/graemlins/70367-help.gif[/img] mi head a gather wata [img]/forums/images/graemlins/70361-embarassed.gif[/img]

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You'd think it would be cheaper to repair equipment where it's located, but maybe it's different in Jamaica. (tongue-in-cheek [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] )

[Dr.Dudd]

Re: Private Enterpise vs. Public Interest

harmony cove and other large hotels are actually beneficiAL to the cuntry,and yes the projected growth rate suggest the need .
incidentally Jamaica has SUFFERED FROM A SHORTAGE OF HOTEL ROOMS FOR SOMETIME NOW.

That has caused a previoius unwillingness of air carriers to take up the route. with the planned increase being the main reason why so many new entrants in th eaieline industry has taken on the dest9nation.
What is needed more so is irrigation infrastructure available to the farmers,so that they can be in a position to have a reliable supply of fruits and vegetables to supply the market.
As soon as that is done,the GDP of the country will be increased 4 folds.

[Dr.Dudd]

Re: Private Enterpise vs. Public Interest

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
this whole article lass mi [img]/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

wouldn't it be cheaper to have the equipment fixed in JA rather than shipping it abroad [img]/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

can smaddy bruk dung the gist and underlying story in the article ..please [img]/forums/images/graemlins/70367-help.gif[/img] mi head a gather wata [img]/forums/images/graemlins/70361-embarassed.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

You'd think it would be cheaper to repair equipment where it's located, but maybe it's different in Jamaica. (tongue-in-cheek [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] )

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Thsi is not the first nor the secpnd nor the fifth time that equipment have been shipped out of the country supposedly to be repaired,only to be replaced by inferior,or not returned.
Their is a law that require export license for heavy equipment instituted as a result of the same trick . That is why repairs is now used as the excuse.

[Blackstar*]

Re: Private Enterpise vs. Public Interest

[ QUOTE ]
Thsi is not the first nor the secpnd nor the fifth time that equipment have been shipped out of the country supposedly to be repaired,only to be replaced by inferior,or not returned.
Their is a law that require export license for heavy equipment instituted as a result of the same trick . That is why repairs is now used as the excuse.

[/ QUOTE ]
Ach so ... Who's supposed to be overseeing the privatized "public" sector?

[evanovitch]

Re: Private Enterpise vs. Public Interest

[ QUOTE ]
harmony cove and other large hotels are actually beneficiAL to the cuntry,and yes the projected growth rate suggest the need .
incidentally Jamaica has SUFFERED FROM A SHORTAGE OF HOTEL ROOMS FOR SOMETIME NOW.

That has caused a previoius unwillingness of air carriers to take up the route. with the planned increase being the main reason why so many new entrants in th eaieline industry has taken on the dest9nation.
What is needed more so is irrigation infrastructure available to the farmers,so that they can be in a position to have a reliable supply of fruits and vegetables to supply the market.
As soon as that is done,the GDP of the country will be increased 4 folds.

[/ QUOTE ]
u know, i am lissening to the news everyday and the more i hear the more i wonder...there r fewer planes flying yet airlines r selling more tickets... [img]/forums/images/graemlins/70402-thinking.gif[/img]they also report that more people r being bumped from flights [img]/forums/images/graemlins/70402-thinking.gif[/img] see the airlines r deliberately overselling knowing fully well that they cannot accommodate the people but juss wanting the money...that is a fact

an now i read here that they r unwilling to take up the route because of the lack of hotel space.....fi real...wen since dem show such integrity...matter of fact, wat flying smaddy somewhere have to do wid dem plans fi stay deh...or r u saying that unless dem can book di whole vacation fi di smaddy dem not willing to fly dem dere

aviation fuel is one of the most expensive in the world...weneva dem have budget crunches, wat routes r looked at to shed... [img]/forums/images/graemlins/70402-thinking.gif[/img] torism enmasse is dependent on disposable dollars...people no have disposable income, interest rates on credit cards high, wat is di fuss ting get cut... [img]/forums/images/graemlins/70402-thinking.gif[/img]

as to building infrastructure for farmers...ah sah...it seems dat dem, the hoteliers believe it is cheaper to fly een di food they buy wholesale due to their being chains etc and guess wat, dem fly dem eeen pon di said airlines

said hotel pay such ridiculous amounts to the host countries due to their having negotiated from a point of strength to set up dem hotel dere in di fuss place...tawk about sex tourism...dis is di fuss incident of said screwing that goes awn....an we should not fill een di equation wid di licky licky officials who pad their offshore bankaccounts while the country they supposedly represent lack basic infrastructure and the minute revenue from these mullibillion endeavours they sign awn to ,eida neva get collected or fail to cova anyting of significance

all these beachfront properties...cover the beaches that r intrinsic to the very thing they claim they r developing for the longterm wellbeing of the country

[evanovitch]

Re: Private Enterpise vs. Public Interest

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
this whole article lass mi [img]/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

wouldn't it be cheaper to have the equipment fixed in JA rather than shipping it abroad [img]/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

can smaddy bruk dung the gist and underlying story in the article ..please [img]/forums/images/graemlins/70367-help.gif[/img] mi head a gather wata [img]/forums/images/graemlins/70361-embarassed.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

You'd think it would be cheaper to repair equipment where it's located, but maybe it's different in Jamaica. (tongue-in-cheek [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] )

[/ QUOTE ]
Thsi is not the first nor the secpnd nor the fifth time that equipment have been shipped out of the country supposedly to be repaired,only to be replaced by inferior,or not returned.
Their is a law that require export license for heavy equipment instituted as a result of the same trick . That is why repairs is now used as the excuse.

[/ QUOTE ]

therein is di rub..u an me can see seh is an excuse...so why cyant the people a yaad...me an u come out a di said schools whe all a dem leaders come from...said thinking process was developed under said schooling..matta of fact, mi can count di numba a high official who r alums from fi mi high school ...formative institution cause if u no learn good at dat level, u juss a struggle fi get di piece a paper at university ...
an smaddy haffi sign di paper fi agree to di lift off of di equipment