JPS says theft of wires has slowed electricity restoration in St Ann

The Jamaica Public Service JPS says the theft of wires has slowed electricity restoration in St Ann.

The light and power company says this has significantly set back its efforts to restore electricity .

The wires were stolen from the power delivery network, which was severely damaged by Hurricane Melissa.
JPS explains that several spans of transmission and distribution lines were stolen from a JPS work site in the Richmond Community on Sunday night.

In addition to removing wires, vandals also cut sections of the remaining lines, making them unusable.
JPS is strongly condemning the criminal act and appealing to the public to refrain from interfering with its infrastructure or removing material from its work sites.

The company has indicated that the theft of the wires and the damage to the lines have added at least another three days to the time customers in sections of the parish will remain without electricity.

This incident comes less than one week after what the company describes as a shocking act of sabotage, which saw a freshly planted utility pole in Bonham Spring being deliberately cut at the base, resulting in recently restored customers losing electricity.

JPS is urging residents to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity of unscrupulous persons in their communities.