Suit against JPS continues today

Jerome Reynolds, Gleaner Writer

Lawyers in the class action suit brought against the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) are to return to the Supreme Court today to make further legal submissions following a new development.

Presiding Judge Justice Bryan Sykes had reserved judgement after lawyers in the case completed legal arguments on July 27.

However, the parties have been called back to the court to make further submissions after attorney-at-law Hugh Wildman, who is representing the claimants, filed new documents.

That submission relates to a 1913 case from the House of Lords in England which deals with exclusive licence under the Electric Lighting Act.

Wildman is contending the case he has submitted to the judge is similar to the one currently being argued in court.

In the case before the Supreme Court, Wildman is arguing that the energy minister does not have the power to grant the exclusive licence to the JPS.

He has described the exclusive licence as illegal and insists the minister breached the Electric Lighting Act when he granted the licence to the JPS in 2001.

Wildman is seeking a declaration that the 20-year-old exclusive licence is illegal, null and void and of no effect.

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