IRAC has been a leech, not a hero, said a small mechanic repair shop owner at the Legislative Assembly Committee meeting, yesterday.
Gary Ellis was one of four speakers at a meeting about the importance of IRAC to the Island. This meeting will help decide if IRAC’s future will be a topic in the Legislative Assembly this sitting.
Ellis said IRAC was a noble effort gone wrong. By cutting warnings of gas price changes, they are being insensitive and indifferent to the people they are supposed to be protecting.
“IRAC has failed to serve Islanders individually and completely.”
Joe Gillis from Norray Properties was also present to protest the usefulness of IRAC. He said, as a landlord he has been forced to put many necessities for his properties on hold, because the needed rent increase wasn’t met.
IRAC only has renters in mind. Helping them find loopholes in their leases and in the renting system in general. At the same time, they give landlords little to no security, he said.
“Why should companies be forced to sit back and take it?”
Consumer and individual Margaret MacKay said IRAC does nothing to help keep the price of electricity low. They should ask more questions as to where the prices are coming from.
Robert Henderson represented IRAC at the meeting.
He said by setting the regional price of fine oil, IRAC is protecting rural gas stations from a gas price war they won’t be able to win, which he said isn’t fair for many rural dwelling Island residents.
Many people have been scrutinizing IRAC recently, since it has stopped giving warnings about gas price changes, allowed an increase in rent and there has been a rise in the cost of electricity.
