PETERSFIELD, Westmoreland — A stark discrepancy exists between official statements and on-the-ground reality in this hurricane-ravaged Jamaican parish. Despite claims by the Jamaica Public Service Company Ltd (JPS) of significant progress in restoring utilities, residents across multiple communities report ongoing struggles more than two months after Hurricane Melissa’s devastation.
The Category 5 storm, which struck in October, severely damaged critical infrastructure throughout Westmoreland, one of the five hardest-hit parishes. The interconnected nature of utility services means that without electricity to power water pumps, residents simultaneously lack both power and piped water from the National Water Commission (NWC).
JPS announced Friday that it had successfully energized power lines leading to the NWC treatment plant in Roaring River—a crucial facility serving the parish—claiming this achievement had stabilized water supplies and restored electricity to residential areas in Petersfield, Waterworks, and Shrewsbury. The company stated subsequent testing confirmed active supply, offering what appeared to be promising news for the disaster-stricken region.
While resident Randy Martin from Shrewsbury acknowledged improved water consistency following the plant reconnection, he clarified that electricity has not yet reached actual homes in his area, despite visible infrastructure repairs including newly planted poles in nearby housing schemes.
Contrary to JPS assertions, numerous residents report completely dry taps and absent electricity. Audley, a Waterworks resident located on the Roaring River line, revealed he continues transporting water via motorcycle from Dean’s Valley to meet basic household needs.
The restoration appears highly localized according to community members. Reds Don from Petersfield noted that while two housing schemes in Waterworks have electricity, surrounding areas remain without power. He further contradicted plant restoration claims, stating, ‘The plant, we hear that it got current, but there’s no water in the pipe.’
Builder Roy Bruce echoed these sentiments, indicating that power service seemingly terminates at Waterworks without reaching the broader community. He emphasized the water crisis remains paramount: ‘They say they [are] going to set up the plant but only a few people [are] getting the water. Only a few pipes [are] getting the water right now.’
The situation highlights the complex challenges of post-disaster infrastructure recovery and the communication gap between utility providers and affected communities still grappling with essential service shortages months after the hurricane.