Gov't completing Beryl damage assessment, considering overseas help to restore electricity
Published:Friday | July 5, 2024 | 9:41 AM
Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the Government is moving to quickly complete the damage assessment phase following passage of Hurricane Beryl.
He says Cabinet is to meet to chart the way forward and determine the priority areas in the recovery effort.
The Prime Minister was speaking following an aerial and ground tour of sections of Southern Jamaica, including St Elizabeth, on Thursday.
Holness says while damage to homes was extensive in the St Elizabeth area, he would not describe it as being "at the highest level of severity."
He said it appears the biggest challenge will be restoring electricity to affected areas.
Holness says the Government is considering enlisting overseas help in the restoration of electricity.
"So many poles have been damaged and that is going to require extensive teams of linemen to come in. I'm not certain what our capacity is in that regard. We will have to try and mobilise even overseas to do that. But we are going to put together all our efforts to ensure that we can return electricity in the shortest possible time," Holness said.
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