KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s critical infrastructure sectors are facing an unprecedented assault as four major utility providers launch a coordinated appeal for national action against escalating vandalism and theft. The urgent call emerged from a strategic webinar hosted by the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) on January 30, 2026, addressing what officials term a crisis threatening the nation’s essential services.
Utility executives presented a stark picture of systemic challenges during the forum titled “Utilities Network Vandalism and Theft: The Real Cost.” Charles Douglas, Senior Manager for Government and Regulatory Affairs at telecommunications provider Flow, emphasized the collective responsibility required to address the issue. “We all have a shared responsibility to improve the situation and to be resilient,” Douglas asserted. “This national infrastructure belongs to every Jamaican. It is a national asset, and we must do everything to protect it.”
The human impact was underscored by Brithney Clarke, business marketing lead at Digicel, who made an emotional appeal for public solidarity. “The time is now. We cannot allow the mindless minority to hold us hostage as a nation, as a people,” Clarke stated, highlighting how vandalism affects ordinary citizens’ access to essential services.
Garwaine Johnson, regional manager for Clarendon and St Catherine at the National Water Commission, framed the destruction as nothing less than an attack on national sovereignty. Johnson advocated for enhanced collaboration between utility companies and law enforcement agencies while encouraging vigilant citizen reporting through the mantra: “If you see something, say something.”
The financial dimensions of the crisis reached staggering proportions according to Jermaine Clarke, revenue security planning and research manager at the Jamaica Public Service Company Limited. His revelation that electricity theft alone costs approximately US$200 million annually—with 19% of all generated power being stolen—illustrated the massive economic drain. Beyond financial losses, representatives detailed how vandalism creates dangerous safety hazards and severely disrupts service reliability for legitimate customers.
The OUR-sponsored webinar served as a comprehensive examination of the multifaceted threat, exploring economic impacts, operational challenges, regulatory framework deficiencies, and potential collaborative mitigation strategies. The consensus emerged that only through unified action between utilities, government agencies, law enforcement, and the public can Jamaica secure its critical infrastructure against this escalating threat.
