Help for JPS to begin arriving in Jamaica this weekend

By Kimone Witter   

Linemen from regional utility companies are scheduled to begin arriving in Jamaica this weekend to assist the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) in accelerating its restoration efforts post Hurricane Beryl.

They will be initially assigned to St. Elizabeth, the parish most badly affected.

JPS says so far, companies in Belize, Cayman, Guyana and Bermuda have confirmed their support.

In a statement Friday, JPS said it is finalising details of the support from other energy companies in the region, who will confirm the availability of their teams by early next week.

The hurricane restoration support to Jamaica is being provided through a mutual assistance programme managed by the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation, of which JPS is a member.

The JPS says although this is the first time in decades it is seeking this kind of support, it has provided similar support to other member utilities over the years.

Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said the JPS had already sought to increase its human resource capacity with former employees as well as by engaging local contractors from the bauxite industry assigned to Hanover and St. Elizabeth.