Help is here!

In a proactive move to bolster disaster response capabilities, 59 skilled linesmen from the United States and Canada arrived in Jamaica on Friday. Their mission: to assist the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) in swiftly restoring electricity services should Tropical Storm Melissa cause significant damage to the island’s power infrastructure. This deployment brings the total number of professionals—comprising Jamaicans, Vincentians, and North Americans—to approximately 650, all trained in the construction, maintenance, and repair of high-voltage electrical and telecommunications lines. The majority of the newly arrived team hails from the U.S.-based Sovereign Line Group. Roger Campbell, a general foreman with the group, expressed enthusiasm about contributing to the recovery efforts, stating, ‘We are just here to bring the power back on, whatever happens.’ Caleb Young, another general foreman, emphasized the importance of arriving early, noting that pre-storm deployment ensures readiness to act immediately after the storm passes. Jeff Files, also a general foreman, described the decision to assist Jamaica as a ‘no-brainer,’ highlighting the collaborative effort between Sovereign Line Group and JPS. Tania McDonald-Tomlinson, JPS’s director of people operations, underscored the strategic planning behind the initiative, which was informed by lessons learned from last year’s Hurricane Beryl. The linesmen, who work under challenging conditions to restore power, are critical to ensuring reliable electricity delivery in the aftermath of natural disasters.