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JPS appeals for patience as residents continue protests for electricity

Winsome Callum, Director of Corporate Communications at JPS
 
The Jamaica Public Service Company has said it understands the frustration of residents who have been protesting over the lack of electricity in their communities since the passage of Hurricane Beryl. 
 
But, JPS Director of Corporate Communications, Winsome Callum, has reiterated the appeal for patience. 
 
"To be fair to our customers, we know it's not easy to be without power for so long. It's really, really frustrating. But what I can say is that we know where you are and our teams are working to get to you. All we can say is, give us a few more days," she pleaded.
 
Several communities across the country have protested as they remain without electricity weeks after the July 3 hurricane. The latest protests occurred in St. Mary on Monday, where residents blocked several sections of the Junction Road as well as the main road in Annotto Bay.
 
Ms. Callum warned that impatient residents are putting themselves at risk, as some are making illegal connections to JPS powerlines.
 
"In their impatience and frustration, they even attempt to turn the light back on themselves or they pay somebody who's supposed to know how to do it. And this has created damage to the infrastructure, it has exposed persons [and their property] to injury," she cautioned, citing an incident in Westmoreland last week where electricity was illegally restored in a community lane, and several animals came in contact with powerlines and died.
 
As the JPS restoration efforts continue, the director of communications said more attention is being placed on hard to reach areas. 
 
"We do need a few more days to get into some of the communities that are more rural and where we have more challenges getting to the area where the damages are. We have in some communities, the access is a challenge because of swampy land. The terrain is really difficult sometimes, motor vehicles cannot take the material to the destination. So we are on the most difficult last mile of this journey," she sought to explain Monday while speaking on the Morning Agenda on Power 106.
 
Ms. Callum said linemen from regional countries, who arrived in Jamaica on the weekend, are participating in an orientation exercise on Monday to begin working alongside JPS crews by Tuesday.
 
Another set of workers is due to arrive from the Cayman Islands this week.
 
Ms. Callum added that there is no shortage of materials such as poles to complete the restoration of service.


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