Jamaica: Supreme Court renders JPS monopoly licence invalid

The Supreme Court has ruled that the licence held by the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) is not exclusive, paving the way for other players to enter the market for distribution of electricity.

In his ruling, Supreme Court Judge Bryan Sykes said the minister does not have the power to grant a license on terms which prevent other applicants from having their applications being considered genuine.

The ruling was immediately hailed by Hugh Wildman, attorney for the claimants, as a major victory. “It is a major victory, because the claimants have been able to break the monopoly licence,” Wildman told reporters following the handing down of the ruling.

The group Citizens United for the Reduction of the cost of Electricity had brought a class action challenging the monopoly license granted to the JPS.