Could you believe that in this recession-filled times all the utility rates in Barbados are going? Better believe it. Last week the Fair Trading Commission granted the Barbados Light and Power Company permission to increase its rate by 10 percent. Last year the Commisssion also granted LIME permission to increase its rates and the Water Authoriy, well they just raised theirs by 60 percent.

Now, I only did introduction to Economics, but it does not take a Sir Arthur Lewis to tell us that in a time of recession such moves are detrimental to the masses. What ever happened to the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility? Where is the social conscience of these companies?

Could you believe that in this recession-filled times all the utility rates in Barbados are going? Better believe it. Last week the Fair Trading Commission granted the Barbados Light and Power Company permission to increase its rate by 10 percent. Last year the Commission also granted LIME permission to increase its rates and the Water Authority; well they just raised theirs by 60 percent.

Now, I only did introduction to Economics, but it does not take a Sir Arthur Lewis to tell us that in a time of recession such moves are detrimental to the masses.

Whatever happened to the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility? Where is the social conscience of these companies?