KINGSTON, Jamaica – Telecommunications provider FLOW is once again grappling with the loss of a section of its copper network which delivers voice and Internet services. 

According to a news release from the company on Monday, the discovery was made as more than 300 customers in the 3 North, Greater Portmore, St Catherine, area reported loss of services due to the theft of vital cables serving their communities.

 “We are extremely concerned about this incident because of the potential danger and inconvenience posed to the affected customers who will need to keep in touch with loved ones or call for assistance during the passage of the storm,” the release stated.

 Director of Corporate Communications and Stakeholder Management at FLOW Kayon Wallace said that this scourge of infrastructure vandalism and theft has been an ongoing issue.

“The fact that these criminals are using the cover of the impending weather system to carry out these acts of terrorism is unconscionable.  Our nation is very vulnerable at this time and so we are appealing to the public, yet again, to report the perpetrators of these acts,” Wallace added. 

“FLOW’s technical team has already completed its assessment and restoration efforts are under way. We are doing everything we can to get our customers back online before the hurricane starts impacting the island,” Wallace continued.

With an initial repair bill of approximately $1 million, the company is also boosting its security in the area as it takes further measures to protect its network infrastructure as well as ensure that its customers remain connected.