JPS in arrears on payments to Petrojam

The Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) has declined to divulge details on its arrears to the oil refinery Petrojam.

    
When contacted, Kelly Tomblin, JPS Chief  Executive Officer, said the power company has been on the losing end in its dealings with Petrojam.

    
She said JPS has been paying Petrojam, in accordance with the payments it receives from the Government of Jamaica.

The company remains at a disadvantage, however, she asserted, because while it is required to pay Petrojam in US dollars, it is paid by the Government in the local currency (which has been significantly de-valued in recent months).

An additional problem cited by Tomblin is the fact that, whereas Petrojam charges JPS interest on outstanding sums owed to the refinery, the government does not pay interest on the money it owes to the JPS.

She stressed however that "when we get paid by the Government, we pay Petrojam the next day."