ST JAMES, Jamaica — Leroy Reid, Director of Customer Solutions at the Jamaica Public Service (JPS), has announced that the company is undertaking comprehensive damage assessments across the island following the severe impact of Hurricane Melissa on the electricity grid. Speaking after an Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) meeting at the St James Municipal Corporation on Friday, Reid highlighted the significant damage sustained by both the transmission and distribution networks.
JPS teams, supported by the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), are conducting aerial and ground patrols to evaluate the extent of the destruction. Reid emphasized the need for patience, stating, ‘The damage assessment will take some time. Once completed, we will develop a restoration strategy and communicate timelines.’
In preparation for the hurricane season, JPS secured additional manpower, including approximately 70 overseas line workers from the Caribbean and beyond, to bolster restoration efforts. Reid also mentioned plans to bring in more resources, such as skilled personnel and equipment, via air or sea.
Addressing concerns about marooned communities where JPS infrastructure may block roadways, Reid assured that these issues would be prioritized at the Incident Command Centre. However, he cautioned against dispersing resources too widely, which could hinder emergency response efficiency.
Reid urged Jamaicans to exercise caution during post-hurricane recovery, reminding them of the compromised public health infrastructure. ‘Stop, think, and assess before you act. Your families need you to be well,’ he implored.
Reiterating JPS’s commitment to swift and safe restoration, Reid concluded, ‘Be safe, be patient. We are working as quickly as we can to restore Jamaica. Thank you for your support.’
— JIS