Julian Rollocks Jr.
PHILIPSBURG--Local businessman Julian Rollocks Jr. believes that utilities company GEBE should implement pre-paid billing for water and electricity and is calling on Members of Parliament (MPs) to question the company about this during today’s urgent public meeting of Parliament.
“Why [has] St. Maarten not implemented prepaid electricity. Similar opportunities are possible on our sister islands of Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire,” Rollocks said in a press statement on Tuesday.
He said Aruba’s prepaid billing is called “prepaid meter,” and in Curacao it is called “pagatinu” in Papiamentu (in English: pay attention), while in Bonaire it is called “pagabon”.
“Prior to the start of the current issues that GEBE has been encountering, clients of GEBE [had] a lot of questions surrounding the electricity bills and water bills,” Rollocks Jr. stated. “Now the people and businesses are feeling as if they are being cheated and it is a huge concern,” stated Rollocks.
“By implementing prepaid electricity and water billing will limit some of the current challenges along with making GEBE clients budget conscience,” he noted.
“I believe this will definitely change people’s lives because many persons can control or monitor his/her electricity on the meter within their home. Another benefit is that constant monitoring brings awareness of the electricity and water consumption which in return, will lead to adjustment of consumption against your budget,” he concluded.
