Residents of Dover, St. Mary protest continued lack of electricity

By Nakinskie Robinson   

 

About 10 per cent of Jamaica Public Service Company customers remain in darkness - a reminder of the devastation Hurricane Beryl left behind when its outer bands impacted Jamaica over a week ago.

 

That situation left members of the security forces in Dover, St. Mary with their hands full on Thursday as they worked to maintain calm among residents who were angrily protesting days of darkness in the community.

 

"JPS, I need di light! JPS is Jamaica People Stress! Unuh a stress wi! We wah light today!" a woman shouted. 

 

Trees and other debris were sprawled across sections of the Dover main road as residents say they have been without power for over a week.

 

One resident expressed concern about their safety. 

 

"It's been 10 days now since we don't have any light....and we are asking the JPS please, it's really urgent.... This area is very dangerous. From the other day a pure killing a gwaan here suh. We nuh safe no time at all, suh we a call pon JPS. Si di problem here, is just di likkle light wire right dere suh just burn off. Dem just only need fi just come fix di light," she pleaded. 

 

They say conditions are unbearable. 

 

"We have to go to work, wi tings dem inna wi fridge dem a spoil and nobody is saying anything to us."

 

"Mi haffi a cook mi food early a evening time because mi nuh want eat mosquito and fly. Eh place dark. Mi son all fraid a night time, first him a witness dem supm yah. Suh JPS, unuh need fi come do something better," a pregnant woman begged.  

 

Another resident said the authorities managed to clear the road but the debris was not properly discarded.

 

"The police dem come move and dem don't clean the place properly. Mi need di rubbish fi move from mi shop because it don't good fi mi health and di people dem weh a come buy from di shop. Mi haffi lock up mi shop". 

 

The Jamaica Public Service Company told Radio Jamaica News that service would be restored to the community within 24 to 48 hours.