EC Loses US$35M yearly to power theft -As Gov’t Owes US$ 8.8M
BY: T. Lula Jaurey IPNews-Monrovia-Liberia-Tuesday 4 December 2018: The Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) loses thirty-five million (35m) every year because of power theft. In the middle of a massive demonstration by communities against the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) for its failure to provide affordable electricity, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), John Ashley on yesterday blamed the situation on the government’s unwillingness to settle its financial obligation in the amount of US$3.4million to the corporation .Mr. Ashley said the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC) is owing to the company US$2.4million with other government entities owing US$3million totaling US$8.8million. Ashley said, his company was losing US$35million to power theft yearly and such a huge amount is contributing to the setback of the institution and also used the opportunity to call on donors and other partners to support the LEC. He said the disclosure that reflected government noncompliance was obtained from the corporation’s customer’s document during the revelation on Monday, December 3, at the certification program of personnel of the LEC’’s Security Department conducted by the Center for Criminal Justice Research and Education of the Liberia National Law Enforcement Association (LINLEA), after three months of intensive training. According to Ashley, they are working along with the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) to make sure some amendment on the power theft law by upgrading it from misdemeanor to felony. He noted that the practice of power theft is a matter of economic sabotage and it should be taken very seriously by all Liberians by the means of amendment Ashley observed. Currently, Ashley said, the law provides minimum punishment for power theft. “When a person is arrested and charged with power theft the accused normally by the law can pay little like US$10 for a bond later that individual goes free. Ashley said if careful consideration is not taking to make power theft a felony crime, the economy would deteriorate with LEC making no significant financial input. The LEC boss maintains that his institution should be the engine for economic growth of Liberia, but this can only happen if the laws are changed and enforceable by the relevant authority.He said the LEC was able to disconnect 1,500 homes that were illegally connected by criminals and some of their employees. Earlier, Atty. Abraham Mitchell, Legal Counsel of the MOJ said the private security like the LEC is a corporate partner of the National Security architecture. He assured the gathering that the ministry was in drive to reform and improve the private security and professional operation in the country, “we have draft bill initially submitted by lnea that is now being revoked for final submission to the legislature to be enacted into law, this will improve the standing of private security as a component of nationals security. Mitchell said it was notable that the LNP and other security service provider of work together for the public safety and community security noting that the Liberia National Police cannot do all. Private security as a complement to state security makes security services affordable accessible and readily available in abundance and thereby reduces the burden on the state Mr. Ashley said. Cecil Griffith’s director said, with the level of security threat being demonstrated by the terrorism and so it was time for the government to consider on the training of private security personnel for intelligence sharing “We need to build their capacity deal with the growing terrorist threat with a new security threat she added.
