Four years ago, Mr Stephen Price, Flow Jamaica’s vice-president and general manager, suggested that deliberate damage to telecommunications apparatus be classified as domestic terrorism.

Mr Price was speaking at a Jamaica Observer Business Forum which examined the issue of infrastructural damage caused by vandals that leave communities isolated without network service during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The issue was brought to the fore after it emerged that Flow and other telecommunications providers had to contend with an increase in infrastructural damage and theft which cost millions to replace while disrupting the flow of communication.

“Right now, if someone steals copper or vandalises a site, it’s petty larceny. Really and truly, I want this to be treated as domestic terrorism. When you terrorise citizens of a community and they’re not in contact with their people or the police; it is a very serious issue,” Mr Price said.

He also argued that the country has to find a way to protect foreign direct investment and added that the sabotage of equipment presents a safety issue for citizens.

Mr Price, of course, was right and has been consistent in his advocacy on that score.

His comments, we believe, have earned renewed focus since the October 28, 2025 passage of Hurricane Melissa.

Just last week, as sections of the country continue to recover from the hurricane’s impact, Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) reported that a freshly planted utility pole in the community of Bonham Spring, St Ann, was deliberately cut at the base, resulting in customers losing electricity that was recently restored.

Now this week, JPS again had to report that its efforts to restore electricity to customers in St Ann have been significantly set back by the theft of transmission and distribution lines from the power delivery network, which was severely damaged by the hurricane.

That demented act of cruelty set back by three days the restoration of electricity to Jamaicans who have been without power for more than a month.

Against that background, we suggest that any move to act on Mr Price’s suggestion should include assault on utility infrastructure in general because the implications of these acts of sabotage extend far beyond mere inconvenience; they pose real risks to national security, public safety, economic stability, and social cohesion.

When vandals cut or steal cables, down utility poles, or disrupt service, be it telecommunications, electricity, or water, the effects ripple through society — especially among the most vulnerable who most times lack alternatives. People may be unable to call for help in a fire or medical emergency, or to contact police in times of crisis. Businesses lose revenue, remote workers cannot function, students are denied learning.

If Jamaica’s networks are routinely sabotaged without adequate deterrence, the country’s appeal as a place for business, outsourcing, and digital services weakens.

As Mr Price correctly argued, infrastructural damage threatens Jamaica’s ability to “protect foreign direct investment” — a key pillar for economic growth.

These are not petty crimes, they are selfish acts of sabotage designed to undermine the stability of society at its core. They cannot be dismissed lightly.