Holness: Full electricity restoration could take up to six months in Jamaica

Jamaica’s Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness revealed that full electricity restoration to all communities affected by Hurricane Melissa could take up to six months, according to current projections..

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Thousands of Jamaicans, particularly those in parishes severely impacted by the Category 5 storm—such as St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Hanover, and St. James—remain without power more than three weeks after Melissa’s passage.

Speaking at a hurricane recovery press conference at Jamaica House on Wednesday, Holness said the Government wants to see the projected timeline shortened and is working with the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) to achieve this. He noted that more resources, in the form of personnel, are needed to undertake restoration and rebuilding works.

JPS has engaged 600 line workers from overseas to help with electricity restoration efforts. Holness said the presence of more line workers could shorten the six-month timeline by two to three months.

“If you use less resources, it takes a longer time. If you use more resources, it may take a shorter time. So we’re working with JPS to bring in more resources so that it takes a shorter time. We are of the view, based upon JPS’ assessment—I’ll leave them to give you the details—that they could shave off two to three months off total recovery if they have the resources upfront to deal with the recovery.”

The Prime Minister added that JPS wants to increase the number of line workers engaged to 900, meaning an additional 300 personnel would be brought in. Holness emphasized that the Government and JPS are in discussions on the matter, highlighting the aim of restoring electricity in the shortest possible time.

“The Government is working with them to see that we can get this done so that we can get electricity back much faster than is projected. If we get electricity back quicker, then water comes back quicker, communities start to normalize, we’re in a better position.”

Holness also indicated that power has been restored to 70 per cent of JPS customers, with a goal of increasing that figure to 75 per cent or more by December.