LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Electricity rates and affordable housing

Monday,  August 29, 2005

Dear Sir,

Please allow me space in your most informative newspaper to address two important matters.

Firstly, I read a most interesting article in your “Jamaican in Cayman” – 19 August edition, captioned – “Electricity costs to increase over “Ivan” (in Jamaica).

In short, the Jamaican public was being asked to pay more on their light, bills, as a result of the damage done to the power company’s distribution network by Hurricane “Ivan” last September.

It was remarkable to note that the Jamaica Government opposition party’s spokesman, stated that the power company’s claim should not be honoured by Government, on the basis that the failure of the power company to insure their transmission lines is a business decision, for which they alone should be accountable.

The spokesman went on to say that the rate increase would unjustly enrich the power company at the expense of an already overburdened public.

Ironically, we have almost the same scenario in Cayman with our CUC. Almost every year we have had to pay a percentages increase on our electricity bills, in order for C.U.C. to account for their 15 percentannual profit, so why couldn’t that company afford to be adequately insured?

Then to add “insult to injury” caused by our personal losses caused by “Ivan”, we now have a 4.7 percent hike to our electricity bills. I always have great concern for the less fortunate, and help them in any way that I can, God knows, but how can they survive nowadays?

It is no wonder that we have so many wayward children, because mothers (mostly single parent) have little time to spend with them, seeing that they have to hold down two jobs to be able to put food on the table for them (children).

Being fully cognizant of this situation, I really thought that Government would have interceded for us, and not let C.U.C. have such a whooping rate increase on the electricity bills.

Secondly, I totally agree with Hon. Arden McLean that the affordable houses are for Caymanians. So, why should Cubans employed by Dr. Frank and “Staunch” be in those houses?

Those houses need to be sold to Caymanians that need them. It seems that Dr. Frank had his-own-agenda when he “pushed” to have those houses started. It is no wonder that the U.D.P. lost the election, because from the top down, people knew what was going on, that was not ethical, with the affordable Housing Initiative.

I am happy that the Hon. Arden McLean initiated a forensic Audit into the matter, and I hope that “no stone is left unturned.”

I note that the new Board members of the A.H.I. are all learned citizens. However, even though they are capable of doing a good job, I don’t believe (at least those from my District) are really “in touch” with those Caymanians who really need one of those houses. The latter wouldn’t even know who one of those Directors are, I don’t even believe that they are listed in the telephone directory. Nevertheless, like all new Governments, board members are appointed form their supporters, even though it is always good to have members that are well known in their Districts and who, know the residents and their situations fairly well.

Anyway, I have great faith that our Government will handle the A.H.I. the way it should be handled, and that Caymanians will benefit from all aspects of it.

Thank you for the space, Mr. Editor.

W. Ebanks

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