Friday, August 4, 2006

by Malaika Laurent
Caribbean Net News Dominica Correspondent
Email: malaika@caribbeannetnews.com

ROSEAU, Dominica: Dominicans marched the streets of the capital city this week, to protest against the high electricity rates they are forced to pay for power consumption.

CAHUR - Consumers Against High Utility Rates led the march, which culminated at the head office of Dominica’s sole electricity company, DOMLEC.

The association also handed a letter to the Prime Minister, requesting a speedy review of the new Electricity Supply Act here.

“We are calling on the government of the day to take a decision in our interest with the whole question of DOMLEC raising electricity on the backs of the consumers of this country and we are saying to the government of the day that they need to take a decision in our interest,” said Michael Coipel, CAHUR’s President.

He added that the VAT - Value Added Tax which was recently introduced to the country, including the electricity rates, has added to the overall cost of power.

“The VAT has increased electricity on the backs of the consumers of this country. We are saying to the government that they need to review the VAT on the electricity bills because it has increased the whole question of electricity,” Mr Coipel said.

CAHUR is also questioning the company’s six million dollar profit last year.

PM Roosevelt Skerrit publicly questioned the accounts of the electricity company recently.

“DOMLEC must tell the Dominica people whether they are in fact reporting honestly and accurately in terms of their profit margins,” PM Skerrit questioned.

But DOMLEC’s Management said in a comeback that a six-million dollar profit for the company is not excessive.

"That six million dollar profit is not excessive in the context of the size of DOMLEC’s operations and the amount of capital and resources that Domlec has to deploy in its business," Joel Huggins, DOMLEC’s Managing Director said in a comeback.

Discussions are ongoing between the government and the electricity company into the proposed Electricity Supply Act.

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