CUC say Bush’s comments inflammatory

McKeeva Bush, Leader of the
Opposition United Democratic
Party (UDP)

Friday,  October 28, 2005

The lone power company in Grand Cayman, Caribbean Utilities Company (CUC) has dismissed rip-off charges made against it by Opposition Leader, McKeeva Bush, as “very irresponsible and inflammatory”. 

Last week, Mr Bush launched a scathing attack on the CUC in the Legislative Assembly, accusing the company of ripping off the people of the Cayman Islands.

Mr Bush said the CUC was the only company in Cayman squeezing the populace to recover losses from Hurricane Ivan, which devastated the Island in September of last year. 

The CUC said this week that Mr Bush was playing on the emotions of nationals during a period of high fuel prices worldwide. 

“The way that Mr Bush has attempted to exploit consumers’ emotions during a period of high fuel prices worldwide is very irresponsible and inflammatory,” CUC said. 

Mr Bush said Government should investigate CUC because the increases were totally uncalled for and its conduct was totally unacceptable.

Again the company denied the allegation and explained that a 67 percent increase in fuel cost has impacted heavily on its business with fuel accounting for 50 percent of its operational costs. 

“The recent increases in electricity costs are entirely beyond CUC’s control and is related to fuel costs, which have increased by 67 pecent over the past year,” CUC said. 

The former Leader of Government Business also charged the Government of Hon Kurt Tibbetts of doing nothing to protect consumers. 
CUC said audits conducted by various Governments have concluded that it has been providing excellent service and its rates are comparative to similar sized regional utilities. 

The company also thanked Mr Bush for his comment regarding its “good service” over the years. 

In July, CUC announced a 4.68 percent increase as part of a cost recovery surcharge measure to offset the huge losses inflicted on their operations and equipment by the hurricane. 

The prices took effect in August amid complaints from businesses and consumers that they were hurting from the hike. 

West Bay MLA Cline Glidden Jnr told the Legislative Assembly this week that electricity has doubled resulting in the increase in the cost of living. 

He added that the country was in for a rough fours years under the ruling Peoples Progressive Movement (PMM). 

However, Manager of Pioneer Bakery, Lennox Moxam, said he was satisfied with his electricity bill in spite of some strange charges. 

“To be honest for what I do I cannot complain at this point. I cannot see any major changes in my electricity bill. Although some of the charges I just cannot comprehend,” he said. 

But Goddard Catering Group manager, George Roberts, said his organization had to absorb the losses to keep its clientele. 

“It has increased significantly in our type of operation. We are absorbing the loss because we are on contract and cannot pass on the increases,” he said.

“Everything has gone up because of electricity so we had close down some of our big refrigerators and conserve electricity by turning off other units,” Mr Roberts added. 

CUC blamed vendors and landlords for contributing to high electricity bills, saying they were selling inefficient appliances that were banned in the US, while the latter continue to rent properties without proper insulation.

“Consumers are stuck with energy consumption levels as much as 30 to 40 percent higher than they should be,” CUC said.

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