Daraine Luton, Senior Staff Reporter

Attorney General Patrick Atkinson today said it would have been irresponsible of the Government not to have joined the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) in its appeal against a Supreme Court ruling that the 2001 all-island licence awarded to JPS was illegal.

Atkinson said the state faced a $24.5-million legal bill, which has been put forward by the claimants in the case.

He also said the appeal has been filed by the Government to protect the interest of Jamaica.

He said his department will argue strenuously for the Supreme Court judgment to be overturned, arguing that if the judgment is not challenged it could have far reaching implication for doing business with the Government as the ruling touched on the matter of the powers of a minister.

Both energy minister Phillip Paulwell, who has been pushing for breaking up the JPS monopoly, and Atkinson say the appeal does not conflict with the Government's commitment to provide competition in the energy sector.

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