KINGSTON, Jamaica— The vast majority of customers of the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS), are expected to have power restored by this Saturday, July 13, according to a commitment from the light and power company.

However, not numbered among them are the majority of customers in the south central parish of St Elizabeth where the JPS infrastructure took a battering from Hurricane Beryl which impacted the island on July 3, leaving billions of dollars in damage.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness told the House of Representatives on Tuesday that Beryl toppled 257 light poles in the bread basket parish which was the hardest hit.

In addition to the downed poles, the prime minister said the report from the JPS indicates that 225 insulators and cross arms were damaged, as well as 105 conductors and 13 transformers.

On the bright side, JPS has informed that it had restored electricity to 84 per cent or 581,000 of its customers up to Tuesday, with most to receive power by Saturday. Unfortunately for residents of St Elizabeth, many will have to wait until early August before the vital commodity is turned back on.

“Restoration is underway (in St Elizabeth), but given the extent of the damage, it will require weeks to complete. I want to assure all Jamaicans that the Government is monitoring the progress closely, and we will do everything possible to accelerate the timeline for restoration,” the prime minister assured.

He also told the House that some customers in the parish started receiving electricity on Tuesday morning, including the Black River Hospital.