Manpower, regulatory issues affecting JPS - That's a Rap panelists

The challenges of manpower shortage and the regulatory environment in Jamaica were among the inhibiting factors cited as affecting the performance of the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS), the country's lone electricity distributor, during the latest edition of RJR's weekly news review show, That's a Rap.

In the wake of Saturday's island-wide power failure, Kelly Tomblin, President and CEO of JPS, told RJR News that the departure of some of the company's best engineers for more lucrative jobs overseas was a major challenge.

"People are heading to greener pastures, or more lucrative labour markets... so it is going to be a long running problem," said Martin Henry, Academic Manager at the University of Technology.

Dennis Chung, chartered accountant and Executive Director of the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica, was particularly concerned about the regulatory challenges, which, according to him, have served to inhibit the advance of the JPS.

"In 2010, when we were way down the wicket, in terms of looking at a new energy provider, there was a concern from the OCG (Office of the Contractor General) that stopped the whole process. Anything that we had selected at that time would have been better than where we are today," he declared.

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