At a time when the recession is hitting all across the world and governments are doing their best to make sure that basic utilities and services as well as basic food prices are not raised, we, here in Jamaica, are increasing our bills and taxes.

How could the Jamaica Public Service company be allowed at this time to increase their charges when people cannot afford their bills now and some have lost their jobs? JPS will soon see that persons will no longer use light and go back to candles and coal stoves in order to survive. What will they do then when they have no customers; what will they raise?

Governments of Jamaica, past and present, seem to raise taxes when they need money. If so many persons owe taxes now and cannot pay them, what makes them believe more and persons will suddenly start to pay?

What we need to do is add more services to the industry that will add more investments which will generate more jobs, more income and more revenue for the Government. This is the only way. Companies now cannot raise their prices. They will go out of business.

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What they need to do is offer discounts, offer more services to get more business and this way they will be able to meet their expenses until this recession is over.

This is not rocket science and it does not need any finance wizard to plan. It just needs some thought and planning which we seem to not do anymore.

I am, etc.,

PETER SHOUCAIR, JP

Kingston