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Light thief experts for hire
For as little as $1,000, residents across several inner-ctiy communities are able to 'cut costs' by equipping their homes with illegal electricity connections which are installed by so-called skilled men who claim to make profits from the activity.
Checks by THE STAR has found that in several communities across the Corporate Area, St Catherine and also in a number of rural areas, men are profiting from the illegal activity of tampering with the works of the Jamaica Public Service (JPS).
Head of corporate communications at the JPS, Winsome Callum, told THE STAR that such reports have been brought to the attention of the company on a number of occasions.
She said people have contacted the company claiming they are being approached by men who solicit their services of making illegal connections. These persons are normally urged to report the matter to the police as it constitutes a crime, Callum said.
"It is something that has come to our attention from time to time, but we normally urge persons to report it to the police because it is a crime and we want the police to get involved," Callum told THE STAR.
During a recent visit to a community in Portmore, St Catherine, residents on a particular street admitted that at least 10 of the 16 houses there have illegal connections.
They said this is a regular thing in the community, adding a particular individual is known to be responsible for installing the illegal wiring and its subsequent servicing.
"Between me and you, most a di people dem pon da road yah run dem connection. Mi know 'cause me run it to and mi nuh fraid fi talk. A one man deh bout di place weh yu can call if yu waa deal wid it and if something go wrong with it, a him sort it out same way," a man who gave his name as Harry B said. Harry B was among a group of men who were having a chat with THE STAR when the issue of 'hard times' came up and the subsequent confessions about having illegal electricity connections.
cyaa afford it
"Yea, yu nuh see time hard, star, and JPS bill dem wicked, mi cyaa afford it so mi jus gi dat man a one grand ($1,000) and mek him line up a connection fi mi," another man said while pointing to the man's home.
When THE STAR spoke to the individual who strongly requested anonymity, he admitted making illegal connections for people, adding that he gets requests from people all across Portmore. According to him, his client base is getting larger and he can make as much as $8,000 per week for just installing illegal connections.
"Is a gran' mi charge, eno, fi string it up, Yuh kno mi can mek all eight gran' inna one week and dat a jus fi string up di illegal light. More time yu have some people weh dem connection waa fix and a me dem call again, so mi mek a different money from dat," he explained.
Asked how he carries out the illegal wiring, the man was reluctant in explaining, claiming giving out such information would be bad for business. "Mi cyaa tell yu dat my boss, when me tell you dat how mi ago eat?" he said before ending the conversation.
In one east Kingston community, the situation was pretty much the same as a number of people spoke openly about having illegal connections and pointing fingers at one person who had the expertise and bravery to carry out the illegal wiring.
"Yea, a so me get a money more time, yu see it, yu wouldn't believe some a di people dem weh want fraud light inna dem place. Mi mek connection fi nurse, teacher, all policeman," that individual claimed. Similar to the character in Portmore, this man was not willing to say how he carried out the act but claimed it involved skill and basic knowledge of electric wiring. The police from these area say they are aware of the practice but have no formal reports.
Meanwhile, Callum spoke on the issue of safety while urging persons to desist from making illegal connections. "The biggest issue is safety, we are having too many fires and too many deaths, especially involving children. It is also a very irresponsible act," she said.
Earlier this month, a Clarendon man was electrocuted after trying to install an illegal connection.
Residents reported that the man was someone who normally made illegal connections for a small fee.
along with solar power & some infrastructure to spread all that spring wata around for people's use!
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