Young Jamaica, the Youth Arm of the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), has come out firing at the People’s National Party which it said is to be blamed for the Jamaica Public Service’s “unacceptable quality of service” in the wake of Hurricane Beryl on July 3.

In fact, Young Jamaica singled out former energy minister and current People’s National Party (PNP) Opposition Spokesman, Phillip Paulwell, as the person who should shoulder the blame for what it calls JPS’ “oppressive conduct”.

“Young Jamaica… notes comments made by former energy minister and current People’s National Party (PNP) Opposition Spokesman, Phillip Paulwell, on the issue of the unacceptable level of quality service meted out to the Jamaican people by the Jamaica Public Service Company Limited (JPS), following the passage of Hurricane Beryl,” the group said in a press release.

“We do expect the opposition spokesman to take full responsibility for the JPS’ poor service delivery and unduly onerous and oppressive conduct to the public. The JPS licence, which was approved by Paulwell in 2016 under the PNP Administration expires in 2027.

“The current regulatory limitations and inadequate remedies for breaches under the current licence are all the prerogative of Paulwell and the former PNP government,” the release noted further.

The JPS has come under fire for failure to restore full power in St Elizabeth which was severely affected by the storm. Making the matter worse is that the JPS had missed several deadlines to do so which resulted in almost daily demonstrations in communities across the parish.

To compound the issue, JPS customers across the island have been complaining about a rise in their electricity bills for the July to August billing period.

Both the government and opposition have called for a rollback of the bills and the independent regulatory body, the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) is investigating the increase.

Young Jamaica said it supports the government’s current efforts, through Energy Minister Daryl Vaz, to get the OUR to hold the JPS to greater account within the “ambits of the law”.

“We have confidence in the JLP Administration to devise a more structured and practical licence arrangement for the JPS in the near future,” Young Jamaica said.

“Young Jamaica support calls for the necessary legislative amendments to be formulated in order to create a more stringent, accountable and competitive framework where utility companies in Jamaica are not only more tightly regulated but also ensure the highest standards of consumer protection and reliable service delivery.”