Second set of Caribbean linemen arrives in island to assist with power restoration

A second set of Caribbean  linemen is in Jamaica with more to come, as the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) pushes ahead in the final stages of restoration, following category 5 Hurricane Melissa. 

The regional linemen are in the island as part of a mutual assistance partnership among Caribbean Electric Utilities, through the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC), which sees member countries assisting each other in the face of disaster.  

The additional members are from Barbados, Belize, Grand Bahama, Nevis, St. Lucia and the US Virgin Islands. 

Teams from 17 Caribbean nations were among some of the earliest crews to arrive in Jamaica, following the onslaught from Melissa.

A number of the crews also brought their own bucket trucks and other vehicles  from countries including Trinidad and Tobago, Cayman and Grand Bahama  to beef up local resources used in the rebuilding and restoration.  

JPS notes that the response from Caribbean neighbours demonstrates the  strength of regional cooperation and the spirit of Caribbean solidarity and brotherhood. 

 The Caribbean nations represented locally have also included Anguilla, Antigua, Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Guyana, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Vincent and Curacao. 

Over 100 Caribbean linemen have been deployed to date, to assist in the recovery.

JPS has emphasized that the present stage of restoration, referred to as the “last mile” is particularly arduous, with high intensity efforts yielding fewer customers, due to a number of  factors, including the challenging nature of the terrain and the scattered populations in deep rural areas.

The company assures all its customers and especially those awaiting power that it remains committed to restoring them as quickly and as safely as possible.