JPS will get overseas help to restore power to customers

By Halshane Burke   

 

The Jamaica Public Service Company is supplementing its work crew with workers from overseas.

 

Prime Minister Andrew Holness made the revelation while speaking in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

 

The light and power company had initially stated that it did not need external assistance.

 

The Prime Minister says JPS has 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. 

 

"In addition, the company is currently engaging CARILEC, that is the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation, to provide support resources in the coming days. We should be getting line workers from countries such as Belize and Cayman, who will help JPS to address the outage pockets that exist within the island," he announced. 

 

Prime Minister Holness said power has been restored to approximately 655,000 customers, which represents 94.6 per cent of the customer base of JPS. 

 

"Power has been restored to all major hospitals and restoration to critical NWC sites is approximately 81% complete as of July 16. I'm pleased to report that power has been restored to approximately 49% of customers in St. Elizabeth. Key areas restored include sections of Black River, Junction, Alligator Pond, Santa Cruz, Siloah, Lacovia, Eldersley and Top Hill. The JPS has indicated that they are targeting the week ending August 10 for full restoration island-wide."  

 

In the meantime, Mr. Holness has called for calm among citizens without electricity.

 

He was speaking in light of an increase in the number of demonstrations over the lack of the service.

 

The Prime Minister noted that JPS is experiencing difficulties in restoring power to certain areas because of issues outside its control. 

 

"We need to moderate the expectations of immediate return because there are some challenges that we need to account for when we are building out our expectation for the return of electricity. For example, if it rains, the line men will not be able to work. So they may lose a day or two. There are poles in certain locations which are unsafe to treat with. So they may have to re-align poles because of land slippage, other broken infrastructure. That makes it more difficult," he lamented.