A filter is clogged. Well, isn't that what filters are supposed to do? What irritates in this case is that they haven't had the foresight to get in a stock of filters, so they could simply change it. What if boat operators took the same approach to fuel filters - wait until it stops working before we see if we can buy another filter? They'd soon go out of business. But not a monopoly business..... It isn't as if they're struggling for funds.

The time when utilities, the SPTC and others overcome their internal inefficiencies and corruption by simply charging more may soon be over. We (the "rich gringos") have been content just to "pay up" and carry on as if nothing had happened, putting up with whatever service happens to be provided as "we're visitors in this country and have to accept how the locals run their affairs". And the best of the lot, "it's all part of local character and colour".

Now the sums involved are starting to get serious and our ability to pay is steadily diminishing. If there is a clear role for the Business Association, the Chamber of Commerce, and other local but largely gringo-based organisations, it is to step up and start challenging these practices that have been going on so long.