Small Business Association calls on OUR to reject NWC’s “damaging” 51 per cent tariff hike request

KINGSTON, Jamaica —The Small Business Association of Jamaica (SBAJ) has strongly voiced its opposition to the National Water Commission’s (NWC) newly submitted application to the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) for a 51 per cent increase in water and sewerage tariffs.

The association, in a Wednesday press release, formally called on the OUR to reject the application and urged the government to hold utility companies accountable for service delivery and fiscal discipline.

Full coverageNational Water Commission Seeks 51% Tariff Increase for Jamaica Customers11 reports

Describing the proposed increase as ‘massive ’, the SBAJ said small business owners and commercial operators are already grappling with lingering economic strains, the fallout from Hurricane Melissa, and severe drought conditions as it  slammed the proposal as “deeply insensitive and damaging”.