KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s energy infrastructure is rapidly recovering from Hurricane Melissa’s devastation, with officials projecting complete power restoration for eligible customers by early February. Energy Minister Daryl Vaz provided a comprehensive update during a post-Cabinet briefing at Jamaica House, revealing significant progress in the national recovery efforts.
The Jamaica Public Service (JPS) has successfully restored electricity to 93% of affected customers, leaving approximately 51,000 households and businesses without power. Minister Vaz outlined a clear timeline for reconnection, indicating that 30,000 of these customers should have service restored by the end of January or early February.
A critical distinction emerged regarding the remaining 21,000 customers who cannot currently receive power due to infrastructure limitations beyond JPS’s control. “These households are not ready to receive electricity, and the JPS cannot be held accountable,” Vaz explained, noting that these cases require additional structural assessments and repairs before power can be safely restored.
The government has initiated a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) to identify and address barriers preventing these final connections. This targeted approach aims to facilitate eventual power restoration to all Jamaican residents.
Westmoreland Parish has demonstrated remarkable recovery progress, jumping from 18% restoration in December to 51% currently. Of the parish’s 34,603 customers, 17,096 remain without electricity. Minister Vaz confirmed that the eastern section of Westmoreland should see service restoration between now and January’s end.
The accelerated recovery follows the government’s strategic intervention last November, providing JPS with a US$150-million loan that enabled the utility company to procure additional equipment and hire more linesmen, significantly enhancing restoration capabilities.