More linesmen, equipment arrive in Jamaica to speed up power restoration

 

The restoration of electricity to communities in western parishes is expected to be accelerated with the arrival of more linesmen and equipment to assist the Jamaica Public Service company.

 

Energy Minister Daryl Vaz says the Second Barge with equipment arrived on Thursday night.

 

Mr. Vaz said this will help to get the remaining 10 per cent of affected JPS customers, approximately 70,000 Jamaicans in the worst affected parishes, reconnected by the end of January.

 

He says 152 trucks and an assortment of equipment and other vehicles were moved from Kingston on Friday to the most severely affected parishes.

 

The equipment was officially handed over to the light and power company at its Hunts Bay station on Marcus Garvey Drive on Friday morning.

 

Addressing the ceremony, Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness said the decision of the government to facilitate the financing of the JPS to accelerate the recovery of the electricity grid is justified. 

 

"So today we can stand here the second end of the new year to welcome over 270 trucks, I believe, in total. Over how many workers? 470. And when you put it all together, the JPS would be...under 800 linesmen now. And of course...under 500 trucks together. So the decision to facilitate the JPS is working for the benefit of the people of Jamaica," he declared.