BY HORACE HINES Observer staff reporter Monday, May 19, 2014
MONTEGO BAY, St James — Four foreigners were among 35 persons arrested on the weekend in Western Jamaica as the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) continued its crackdown on electricity theft that it insists is robbing it of millions of dollars annually and posing a threat to its viability.
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| A fleet of JPS vehicles which transported their crew on an anti-theft drive in Norwood, St James last Friday. (PHOTO: PHILLIP LEMONTE) |
A usually reliable source told the Jamaica Observer that the four foreigners are from the Dominican Republic. They are reportedly working here and living in a rented house in Lilliput, St James where most of the arrests were made on Friday.
Marvin Campbell, JPS parish manager for St James and Trelawny, could not confirm the four men’s nationality.
But he verified that they were among the 35 persons arrested on day one of the operation, which, in addition to Lilliput, saw JPS and police personnel going into Norwood and Whitehouse.
Campbell said that four built-in meter bypasses and a number of throw-ups were discovered during the first day of the operation. “JPS is once again trying to take back the electricity that is being stolen by consumers,” Campbell said.
On Saturday, as the crackdown spread to the upscale Fairview community of St James, a man was arrested after the JPS and police team found a meter bypass during a search of premises he occupies.
Campbell disclosed that the team also found several illegal connections running from Westgate Hills — another swanky St James neighbourhood — into the nearby Mount Salem community.
The team is to return to the area this week to dismantle the illicit connections. Last week, JPS President and CEO Kelly Tomblin said the power company lost US$73 million to stolen electricity over the past two years. more
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