JPS to deploy 300 workers in St Elizabeth electricity restoration effort

The Jamaica Public Service (JPS) says in order to accelerate the pace of electricity restoration in St Elizabeth, it will be redeploying more resources to the parish.

JPS' Senior VP Energy Delivery Blaine Jarrett has indicated that over the next few weeks, about 300 workers – a combination of JPS employees and contractors –  will be deployed throughout the parish to do restoration work.

The entire parish was left in the dark following devastation by Hurricane Beryl last Wednesday.

After days without power, JPS today stated that some areas of the parish began receiving electricity early this morning. 

“We are doing everything we can to restore service to the critical facilities in St Elizabeth as soon as possible, and the Black River Hospital was our first priority. We have now restored supply to the hospital, as well as to some NWC pumps at Mount Edgecombe, Luana and Darliston,” Jarrett explained.

“Over the next few days, we will continue to focus on other critical facilities and, as we restore these, the communities nearby will benefit,” he said.

Jarrett said it will take up to a month for service to be restored to the entire parish. 

“The electrical infrastructure in St Elizabeth was extensively damaged, and it will take weeks to repair the damage and rebuild sections of the network.”

Meanwhile, JPS says the restoration efforts elsewhere continues with now more than 84% of its 692,000 customers getting back power.

Below are some of the communities in which teams will be working over the next 24 – 48 hours:

ST THOMAS:  Sections of Water Lane, Miami Lane, Nutts River Road to District, Top Hill, Golden Grove to Hampton Court, Dalvey, Cutie Shop to Cedar Valley, Baptist Lane, Cedar Valley to Newcastle, Moy Hall, Somerset, Port Morant Bath, Cabbage Hill Communication Tower, Sunning Hill, Water Valley, Nickle Hill, Arcadia, Bowden, Aeolus Valley, Easington Housing Scheme, and Windsor Forest.

PORTLAND: Sections of Fellowship to Moore Town, Skipper Boulevard, Fern Hill, and San San to Fairy Hill.

ST MARY: Sections of Junction, Quebec, Epsom, Bellevue to Lucky Hill, Petersfield, Tims Berry, Three Hill to Industry Pen, Enfield to Juno Pen, Zion Hill, Flint River, Retreat, Walkerswood, Barracks River, Upton, Exchange, Middle Street, Guy's Hill, and White Hall.

HANOVER: Sections of Fish River, Cave Valley, March Town, Campbelton, Birches Hill, Winchester, Montpelier, Sandy Bay, and Haddington.

ST JAMES: Sections of Glendevon, Blood Lane, Moy Hall, Irwindale, Chelsea Irwin, Black Shop,  Spring Mount, Cotton Tree, and Copper Wood.

KINGSTON & ST ANDREW: Sections of Jacks Hill Primary School, Maamee River Road off Gordon Town Road, Braywick Road, Jacks Hill, Cassava River, Constant Spring, Victoria Street Between Wellington Street and Mitchell Street, Coopers Hill Rise, Brandon Hill Coakley District (Mount Airy), Glengoffe, Irish Town, Westphalia, Bermuda Mount, Redlight, New Castle, Greenwich, Tower Hill, Mavis Bank, Mt Charles, Maryland, Norbrook Mt., Guava Gap, Wireless Station, Mt Salus, Essex Hall, Golden River, Barnett, Retirement, Freetown, Sue River, Harkers Hall, Belmont, King Weston, and Luna.

ST CATHERINE: Sections of Wynters Park, Kitson Town, Alpine Avenue, Claremont Heights, Poultry Farm, Hill Run, Bellview Heights, Guanaboa Vale Police Station, Hill Run, Amity Hall, Point Hill, Juan De Bolas, Gordon Hill, Avery Sewage Plant, Polly Ground, Riversdale, Williamsfield, and Hartlands.

PORTMORE: Sections of Old Cumberland, Passage Fort, Westchester, Water Ford, Caymans Gardens Site D, South Borough, Upper Fort, and Edge Hill.

ST ANN: Sections of Off Windsor Road to Jus Cheers, Salem stoplight to Hamstead, Backstreet Salem, Moneague, and Friendship to Alexandria.

CLARENDON: Sections of Mineral Heights, Porus Substation to Williamsfield, Lionel Town Hospital, Morgan's Pass, Colonels Ridge, Brandon Hill, Kellits, St. Johns and Lluidas Vale, Four Paths, Victoria, St. Jago Road, Duke Street, Comfort Road, Clarendon Park, Lionel Town, Monymusk, Hayes, Corn Piece, and Raymonds.

MANCHESTER Sections of Alston to Laughton Town, Porus, Williamsfield, Grey Ground, Woodlawn Road, Georges Valley, Upper Mount Nelson, Hatfield, Greenvale, Manchester Road, Balvenie, Bloomfield Street, Patrick Road, Clarks Town, and Brumalia Road.

ST ELIZABETH: Sections of Watchwell to Perdo, Top Hill to Junction, Flagaman to Top Hill, Black River to Whitehouse and surrounding areas.

WESTMORELAND:  Sections of Nonpareil to West End, Red Hill, Hilton Avenue, West Cliff, White Hall and surrounding areas.

TRELAWNY:  Sections of Daniel Town, Duanvale, Sawyers, Stewart Town and surrounding areas.

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