THE Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC) has voted to summon the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) to appear at its next sitting after members agreed that the electricity provider’s repeated failure to attend amounted to a disregard for parliamentary oversight.

The decision was made by PAAC members during Wednesday’s meeting as they expressed frustration over the electricity provider’s continued absence from oversight hearings, following concerns raised by Member of Parliament for St Catherine South Western Everald Warmington who pointed out that the JPS had missed a number of scheduled appearances, despite repeated invitations.

According to Warmington, the pattern could no longer be excused.

“This is the third time we have got excuses from JPS for not being here. I think it’s a matter of level of disrespect. It’s a height of disrespect and disregard for Parliament. If you have that disrespect and disregard for this committee, it means it’s for Parliament, and I’m moving that we issue summons or subpoena, whatever it is here, for them to appear before this committee,” said Warmington.

Since Hurricane Melissa ravaged sections of the island on October 28, 2025, the PAAC has been inviting government agencies, ministries, and private entities to provide updates on recovery efforts, but JPS representatives have not turned up giving various reasons.

PAAC Chair Peter Bunting advised members that on this occasion the JPS’s Chief Executive Officer Hugh Grant had linked him on Monday to explain his absence, citing operational challenges following Hurricane Melissa, including a fatal accident involving overseas linesmen that required his attention on the ground.

“Apparently he’s based in Westmoreland now, but he had planned to come back into Kingston on Monday to, among other things, address this committee. He said there was a fatal accident involving a convoy of overseas linesmen that had four fatalities and that it was essentially they were traumatised and it had the potential to affect the ongoing restoration, and he felt it was important for him to be there to deal with the matters on the ground and ensure that restoration continued,” Bunting told the committee.

Warmington, however, dismissed that explanation, questioning why the company’s leadership could not prioritise attendance before Parliament.

“Is he a doctor, or a nurse? Does he drive a hearse?” he asked.

“We cannot take this type of disrespect from any other institution, and they are the only one that appears like this,” added Warmington.

Other members echoed the concern, noting that while the committee had initially shown flexibility in light of the hurricane’s impact on the electricity network, patience had worn thin.

“We were lenient for the first couple of months. We knew that they were grappling with a lot and they were overwhelmed, but I think the committee is at the end of its patience now,” Bunting declared.

The discussion also highlighted a broader weakness in the legislative framework, with Warmington pointing out that Parliament currently has limited sanctions available for entities that ignore committee invitations.

“As it stands now, we have nothing in law that you can sanction them with,” he said, indicating that he intends to bring a private member’s motion aimed at strengthening penalties for contempt of Parliament.

The committee then received legal advice that, under the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives and the legislation governing parliamentary powers and privileges, standing committees are empowered to summon individuals or entities — public or private — to attend and give evidence or produce documents. The committee was told that a summons is considered a last resort, but may be issued once repeated invitations have gone unanswered.

Following the clarification, the chairman put the motion to a vote, and it was carried unanimously.

The move marks a more assertive stance by the PAAC, which is responsible for scrutinising public expenditure and the performance of entities whose operations have significant national impact.

JPS has faced sustained public criticism in recent months, particularly over electricity restoration following Hurricane Melissa and broader concerns about accountability and service delivery.