Cuban 'Free' light bulb cost Ja Millions?

[johnnycakes]

Re: Cuban 'Free' light bulb cost Ja Millions?

Evanovitch:
"u know the term that came to me was bourgoisee....u know di bit about maintaining di locals who maintain the land...fits into 15th century england as i was reading last nite..."


Evan,
The difference of course is that the lords who owned the land in 15th century England lived off the labor of those who lived on their lands.
I bought a piece of barren hillside useless to the cattle farmer who owned it, paid many workers to build the house, am helping to support a family who care for the house and land and haven't ever taken a penny out of Jamaica.
Unlike Walhalla, I would have thought you would know just what is and what is not capitalism.

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Cuban 'Free' light bulb cost Ja Millions?

<span style='font-size: 14pt'>Issue: Are the bulbs all accounted for?</span>
published: Saturday | November 17, 2007

When I first heard about the free light bulbs drama, initially I did not hear how many bulbs were involved. A little light bulb went off in my head when I heard that the actual amount was 4,000,000. Now, that's a lot of bulbs.

I conducted a mini-survey at my office and found about five out of 10 households received some number of bulbs. Further, the average number of bulbs received per household was five. A few got one extra.

I also called the public relations department at the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) and they informed me that JPS has 570,000 customers.

To be generous and assuming that even seven out of every 10 JPS customers received any of these free bulbs and assuming that each such household received an average of six bulbs, it would mean that just 2,394,000 bulbs were distributed (570,000 x 70 per cent x 6).

Where are the rest? Has anyone stated the number of bulbs that have not been distributed? Where are they stored?

The sale of 1,606,000 bulbs (the remainder) would provide someone a nice pension. In fact, at even $250 each, the street value of these bulbs would be more than $400 million ($401.5 million to be exact). That is more than the almost $300 million already spent on their distribution.

Let's hope none of these free bulbs found themselves on the street. One of these free light bulbs would be useful in shedding some light in this dark corner.

- Egerton Chang, MBA, B.Sc.

http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20071117/cleisure/cleisure4.html

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Cuban 'Free' light bulb cost Ja Millions?

<span style='font-size: 14pt'>Contractor General questions key officials in Cuban light bulb probe </span>
Monday, 19 November 2007
There is another development in the ongoing investigations Energy minister Clive Mullings, on Sunday told the RJR News Centre that Contractor General Greg Christie has issued questions to several key persons who could assist with the investigation into the Cuban light bulb saga.

"The Contractor General has provided questions to be answered by the Permanent Secretary, the head of PCJ, myself and former ministers Spencer and Paulwell. I know the Auditor General's department is also conducting their own checks. As late as Friday the Auditor General's department secured keys to check the amount of bulbs that are now in storage," said Mr. Mullings.

Mr. Mullings says he is now patiently awaiting the findings of the investigations.

"I don't interfere in their investigations neither am I putting them under any pressure that is out of my purview. The time it takes to report depends of course on the extent of what they have to cover and therefore I await them in terms of that regard,"

"I am not in the business of character assassination. I believe it is very important that we have good stewardship and wherever the chips fall then so be it," he said.

The Cuban light bulb saga started when the energy minister in a presentation in parliament revealed questionable spending of millions of dollars associated with the project.

Former Energy Minister Phillip Paulwell and his Deputy Kern Spencer, who were at the helm of the project resigned last week as opposition spokespersons.

http://www.radiojamaica.com/content/view/3102/26/