LOWER BUXTON, St Ann — Residents of Lower Buxton in St Ann finally have access to legal electricity, after being added to the national grid through National Energy Solutions (NESol), formerly the Rural Electrification Programme.

The installation of infrastructure for provision of electricity to 31 households, and the installation of street lights in the community was spearheaded by NESol, an agency of the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining at cost of roughly $4 million.

Speaking at a ceremony in the community to commission the electrical supply last Thursday, Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Phillip Paulwell said the entire parish of St Ann will be fully electrified in short order, having completed 126 extensions through NESol since 2012.

Minister Paulwell noted that 97.5 per cent of Jamaica has been electrified, with only some of the most remote areas and those communities that are furthest from the grid making up the remaining 2.5 per cent.

“Jamaica is way above the 70 per cent global average for electrification,” the minister pointed out.

He said the community of Alma in St Ann is now being wired for electrification, while Free Hill in the parish will follow.

Paulwell added that NESol is continuing its work by utilising new technology to establish mini grids, using renewable energy, mainly solar in some of these remote areas.

Member of parliament for St Ann North West , Dr Dayton Campbell, in which Lower Buxton falls, said this latest development in the community will go a long way in contributing to its overall development, and encourage the residents to ensure the sustainability of the initiative by paying for the service.

“Residents have to manage usage of the electricity supply and make sure bills are paid,” he stressed.

He said the addition of the community to the national electricity grid will also facilitate access by residents to modern technology, and expressed gratitude to Minister Paulwell for responding favourably to his lobbying efforts on behalf of the community, as well as stakeholders NESol and JPS for steering the project.