Leader of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), Prime Minister Andrew Holness has instructed the party’s representatives to intensify efforts to address challenges facing Jamaicans, including people affected by Hurricane Beryl.

The governing JLP says Holness issued the directive during what it describes as a productive meeting of its Central Executive on Sunday.

A statement from the party on Sunday night quotes the prime minister as saying the Government has been moving to increase the intensity of Beryl restoration efforts.

“We have been accelerating efforts to deliver assistance to our fellow Jamaicans who have been affected by Hurricane Beryl. However, as representatives you must play a supportive role to public bureaucracy, and of even greater importance, as representatives you must ensure accountability of the agencies and public officers in the execution of their duties during the recovery from disaster,” Holness reportedly advised members of Parliament (MPs) and councillors who were in attendance at the Central Executive.

The JLP said the party leader also emphasised the importance of representatives of the party not politicising the recovery effort and to report any attempt to politicise or divert relief and recovery efforts.

He reportedly told the Central Executive that the party must develop a more enlightened and robust policy of dealing with multiple and overlapping shocks and crises, which are becoming more frequent, noting that Jamaica every year, during the past five years, has had to deal with weather events which overlapped with a global pandemic, along with supply chain disruptions and the impact of wars and global inflation.

According to the prime minister, it’s noteworthy that no other government of Jamaica has had to navigate these challenges but his administration has addressed them all effectively without putting the economy into debt or placing more tax burden on the people, the JLP said in the release.

The party says concerns were also raised during its Central Executive about the pace of electricity restoration and plans by the Jamaica Public Service to issue estimated bills to some customers.

“I have spoken to the energy minister, Daryl Vaz, and advised that all appropriate and lawful steps must be taken to ensure that the Jamaican people are treated in a fair and equitable manner by the electricity company. Minister Vaz has already had preliminary discussions with the Office of Utilities Regulations (OUR) which is the independent body which has jurisdiction over regulating the treatment of customers by utilities,” the JLP quoted Holness as saying.

The prime minister also reportedly told the Central Executive that Vaz has moved to seek the OUR’s intervention in ensuring additional and rigorous oversight of JPS’ maintenance schedule in a bid to ensure the best quality service is delivered to customers.

According to the JLP, Holness reiterated that the Government is considering a review of the JPS Act to have more relevant regulations in the maintenance of the distribution network, particularly to ensure trees are not planted close to power lines and that potential hazards are removed.