I note a story in the Jamaica Observer in which the minister of local government and community development is planning to meet with the representatives of the Jamaica Public Service Company Limited (JPS) to discuss the current arrangements regarding street lights. Up to recently, I thought that the wanton waste due to street lights blazing during the daylight hours was a loss on the books of the JPS, which is a private entity, and even though such costs are usually passed on to the customers, at least it was not the liability of the taxpayers of Jamaica via their Government.

At first blush, the thrust of the article seemed to be about the Minister Desmond McKenzie’s dissatisfaction with the retrofitting project and the state of the street lighting apparatus that currently delivers the service, and that the minister would be lodging a strong complaint to the JPS on behalf of the citizenry.

However, my initial thought was completely turned on its head when the article revealed that the JPS is in fact owed in excess of $3.7 billion for street lights, presumably by the Government and not by private households and commercial customers. One can suppose that receivables owed to the JPS by private counter-parties are being managed along standard commercial lines, and hence this $3.7 billion represents monies owed to the JPS by the Government. Now then, should the minister be going to reprimand the JPS or should he, instead, assume a conciliatory stance as he seeks concessionary credit terms?

Waste in any form by anyone, including those with deep pockets, is bad, and perhaps even immoral. But losses due to government mismanagement or ineptitude are unacceptable and, especially in this period of austerity, no Government authority can afford any inefficiency and preventable loss. I feel that I am on firm footing if I suggest that part of that bill owing to the JPS is due to street lights that are consistently on during daylight hours. And is it the JPS or is it the local authorities that have the responsibility for regulating the use of public street lighting?

For sure, if the JPS installed timing or solar apparatus as the minister may wish to say, that would be a saving grace. But my empirical observation over the past several months traversing varied communities in St Andrew and Kingston, the corridor from Windward Road to Harbour View and onward to Morant Bay and hamlets in St Thomas; and throughout St Catherine, Clarendon, and Manchester as I journey on to Mandeville, Gutters and south-eastern St Elizabeth reveal a common sad state of affairs. A great many — though not sure of the percentage — of the street lights are on in the days, consistently and regularly. This is my observation and I suppose my fellow citizens across the length and breadth of Jamaica have their own similarly supporting empirical observations.

If the minister were himself to say it, I would agree that this damn foolishness needs to stop. We cannot afford this leaking of funds which the budget sorely needs to deploy elsewhere.

While I must leave the technical solutions to the experts, I would suggest the following:

* Since all or most lamp posts and street lights have an affixed unique reference number, and since the JPS would have an inventory of all of its lamp posts, a starting point would be for the JPS and, indeed, the ministry, to have an interest in being advised when these street lights are blazing during the days. A public education campaign could go out for citizens to report when the lights are on during daylight.

* Along with toll free numbers, an app could be designed and pushed to the public to allow for the easy reporting of the problem.

* And the next step is a logical one. The JPS deploys its crews to deal with the matter, and the ministry can also track same. The log of these reports should be in the public domain for all to see.

Mr Minister, though the true picture now seems to be where even though the JPS needs to be scolded for the poor state of its apparatus, it also seems that you are in a compromised position in that you need to be asking for mercy, or concessions, from the JPS.

Even so, your take-action reputation from your days as mayor of the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation is still fondly and highly regarded by many and if you can bring some energy and effectiveness to this situation so that we can reduce the daily wastage from having street lights blazing during the daylight hours, your political stock will rise even higher and the taxpayers will thank you.

Christopher Pryce is a trained engineer with an interest in public affairs. Send comments to the Observer or christopherjmpryce@yahoo.com.