Westmoreland Parish, Jamaica, confronts a protracted electrical infrastructure recovery timeline, with municipal authorities indicating certain regions may remain without power until May 2026. Savanna-la-Mar Mayor Danree Delancy disclosed this critical update following consultations with Jamaica Public Service CEO Hugh Grant, highlighting the severe operational challenges stemming from Hurricane Melissa’s devastation.
While essential facilities including Savanna-la-Mar Public General Hospital and major sections of Negril have regained electrical service, the broader restoration effort faces multi-year delays. The extended outage period exacerbates existing economic vulnerabilities, with approximately 60% of local small enterprises remaining shuttered due to combined structural damage and energy deprivation.
Mayor Delancy expressed particular concern regarding commercial viability, noting that daily generator expenses exceeding $10,000 Jamaican dollars present insurmountable operational costs for most businesses. Concurrent employment crises have emerged across the tourism sector, leaving numerous residents simultaneously unemployed and homeless.
Despite intervention efforts from private organizations supplementing governmental response, constituents report inadequate access to reconstruction materials through official channels. The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) continues distribution operations, though previously allocated emergency funds of $250,000 per municipal corporation have been exhausted amid overwhelming need.