.jpg)
A man saws a tree used to block a section of the Junction Road in St. Mary.
.jpg)
...
.jpg)
Firefighters helped clear a section of the road
.jpg)
In Annotto Bay, only one lane is accessible on the main road after motorists partially cleared stalls used to block the road.
.png)
A resident of Devon Pen; a motorist and passenger stuck in traffic on the Junction Road in St. Mary; and JPS Director of Corporate Communications, Winsome Callum
By Kimone Witter
The roadblock on the Junction Road near Devon Pen in St. Mary has been cleared, however, this has provided little relief for motorists who have been stuck in traffic since 5 o'clock Monday morning.
Other sections of the thoroughfare at Friendship Gap, Grandi Hole and Castleton are inaccessible.
Police and firefighters are trying to remove the debris that was placed on the road by residents of Devon Pen, Mason Hill and Castleton who are frustrated about the lack of electricity since the passage of Hurricane Beryl.
Residents of Devon Pen told Radio Jamaica News that the area was already contending with the loss of a police service vehicle for almost four months which has prevented officers at the Castleton Station from responding to crime.
They say the extended loss of electricity has exacerbated the problem.
"We only have two light post break down a Broadgate. A right deh suh electricity come and stop, and we can't get no service almost 20 days," said one resident who lamented that crime has increased in the community since there is no electricity.
The roadblocks resulted in some motorists missing their appointments at medical and government offices.
"It cannot worse. I don't know how to describe it. We are here from after 5 [in the morning]. Both of us have appointment going in and we just can't make it. I hope that they can do something to really help us and others," a man who was travelling to the Passport Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) and his female passenger, who had a hospital appointment, told Radio Jamaica News.
In Annotto Bay, only one lane is accessible on the main road.
Stalls have been used to block the road, some of which have been removed by motorists.
That roadblock, which is unmanned, is also due to lack of power.
JPS appeals for patience
Meanwhile, 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.
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.
Ms. Callum said more attention is now 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.
comments powered by Disqus
All feeds
