– Advertisement –
Residents and business owners in several parishes are praising the Jamaica Public Service for its work to restore electricity after Hurricane Melissa.
JPS crews have been out day and night since the category-five storm hit on October 28. Many communities had no power for days. By Monday, November 10, JPS had restored electricity to 300,000 customers, or 64 per cent of its customers.
Minister of Science, Energy and Telecommunications Daryl Vaz said the pace of repairs will increase. He said people should see an even stronger effort in the coming days and weeks.
Joseph Lloyd, who lives in Montego Bay, said he sees the crews working and believes they are committed. He said the teams have shown great dedication and are helping the community get back on its feet.
John Byles, Deputy Executive Chairman of Chukka Caribbean Adventures and head of Jamaica’s Tourism Recovery Task Force, said JPS is playing a “critical role” during this difficult time. He praised the team for working tirelessly across the island.
He added that the focus on restoring power to essential services such as water pumping stations, hospitals, police stations, airports, and cruise ports has been clear. He said these services are vital to restarting both national life and tourism, which many Jamaicans depend on.
Sanju Chatani, Senior Director of the Taj Mahal Plaza in Ocho Rios, said electricity is central to hospitality and service businesses. He said reliable power helps bring back visitors, protect safety, and restore confidence.
In Portland, Marlise Cowie-Adiansingh, Principal of Nonsuch Primary School, said stable electricity supports students’ learning and helps daily routines return to normal.
Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Richard Vernon, said the push toward full restoration remains focused on safe and timely reconnection of key infrastructure. He stressed the need to protect lives, jobs, and the national economy, especially tourism, which supports thousands of families.
Source: Jamaica GiS.
– Advertisement –