Work to reduce street-light bill done, Mr Arscott

THE EDITOR, Sir:

This is an open letter to Local Government Minister Noel Arscott.

I read of your plans to reduce our street-light bill by $1 billion, and I support your effort.

I remind you that under our two recent political regimes, much work was put into establishing and documenting a memorandum of understanding between the local authorities and the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) to govern the method of charging for street-light service.

The Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) was the facilitator, and the Association of Local Government Authorities (ALGA) represented the parish councils in the negotiations.

I suppose JPS would not be averse to you starting all over again, since that would allow them to continue overcharging us.

Minister, the OUR, along with the JPS and surely ALGA, has much information on the way forward. You don't even have to go that far, as the real workers in your ministry who were party to the deliberations would also have the information.

The document was awaiting the signature of JPS or the ruling of the OUR, and you should be able to bring about a final position shortly.

Please pursue this matter for us, the payers of property tax.

MILTON C. BROWN

Former Mayor of May Pen

Former President, ALGA