An article captioned 'Government technocrats flay JPS over energy price' was printed in your Business section on Wednesday. In that article, the 'technocrats' called upon the utility to accelerate the process of retiring the existing generating units because they were seen as being outdated, contributing to the high cost of electricity and hobbling the local productive sector.

The technocrats overlooked or chose to ignore the fact that over the last 20 years, JPS has repeatedly developed plans for introduction of new, efficient generating plants, but in every instance the company has not been allowed to proceed with the investments proposed. The plans were developed using sophisticated analytical techniques and in a number of instances were reviewed by internationally respected consultants.

Optimal investments

However, in that period, JPS has never been allowed to proceed with the investments which, in its judgement, were optimal for Jamaica's circumstances, but the supposedly superior alternatives have also never been brought to fruition. It, therefore, seems less than fair to hold the company responsible for the effects of it not having done that which it was prevented from doing.

Generation investment decisions must be reviewed in the public interest, but a process in which plans are developed by the responsible agency but prevented from being executed without any alternative being brought to fruition is not conducive to economic development.

I am, etc.,

WINSTON C. HAY

Kingston