EDITORIAL

We enjoy an improved standard of living through the use of utilities available to us: water, electricity and telecommunications services. It should therefore be obvious that the companies responsible for the operation and continuous upkeep of these services need money to operate. It should also be obvious that those who need these services as they go about their lives, must make a monetary contribution, usually monthly, for this circle of life to continue and to improve.

 

Everywhere you turn, it seems that there are too many Barbadians who are scheduled to have their water cut off because they have not paid their water bills and similarly their electric bills. It is known in few circles that there are some Barbadians who place payment of bills on the back burner, yet the hue and cry that accompanies disconnection is evidence that these utilities are indeed necessary. This has been the trend for many years, and you find that these offenders only pay the bills when the threat of disconnection is looming. This is proof in some instances that these offenders have the ability to pay, but just prefer to be tardy.

 

On the other hand, there are people who are suffering the lack of one utility or more and they are powerless to fix their problems. Employees of the Barbados Water Authority have been working around the clock to bring water relief to the people in St. Joseph who have been experiencing water setbacks for a time frame that many describe as too long. Hence, we must be careful that we don’t take these necessary services for granted.

 

On the other side of the coin, however, is the fact that cell phone use is on the rise. Hence, the methods of payment for this service – whether post-paid or prepaid – is generally up to date, if one considers the growing incidence of use throughout the country.

 

It is time for a shift for those who put their bills last on their list of priorities, falling well behind while purchasing the latest fashions, beauty needs, and recreation. It is not unreasonable to conjecture that there will be some persons, during this 50th Anniversary of Independence, who will attend all the activities. While we encourage this show of patriotism, we also urge those who know that they put their priorities on the back burner to be prudent and budget for the required utility bill payments first before dealing with the festivities.

 

Some excuses for not paying bills on time range from inconvenient times, to out-of-the-way payment outlets. However, with the ready availability of SurePay outlets as well as online and telephone banking, it would be interesting to find out how many persons make use of these free services.

 

Let’s get serious about our responsibilities. Water is important for our survival and general lifestyles, and in some territories, can even be considered a luxury. The same can be said for electricity. Consider those in Jamaica and Haiti, who do not have any utilities after the passage of Hurricane Matthew. It is time that we learn to appreciate some of the things that make our lives easier, and those who provide them. By paying these bills we pave the way for a more efficient service in the future and ensure enhancements to the network, a move which will benefit all of us.