LINEMEN from two energy companies from the region arrived in the island over the weekend to assist Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) with its Hurricane Beryl restoration efforts.

Director of corporate communications at JPS Winsome Callum said the linemen, who are from Guyana Power and Light and Belize Electric Limited, went through orientation on Monday.

“They… have been deployed to start working alongside our linemen as of tomorrow [Tuesday], starting in St Elizabeth — the worst-affected parish,” she said.

She noted that additional linemen will be coming in from Cayman (Caribbean Utilities Company) this week.

“We also have commitments from Bermuda and the Turks and Caicos Islands to send linemen to support our restoration efforts; these arrangements are being finalised,” she said.

“The assistance from our Caribbean neighbours is expected to help expedite restoration of service to our customers following the passage of Hurricane Beryl,” she added.

In a statement last week, JPS said the hurricane restoration support to Jamaica is being provided through a mutual assistance programme managed by Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC), of which JPS is a member.

Although this is the first time in decades JPS is seeking this kind of support, the company has provided similar support to other member utilities over the years, JPS said in the release.

Hurricane Beryl brushed the island’s south coast on Wednesday, July 3, leaving thousands of Jamaicans without electricity. Up to 24 hours after the passing of the storm at least 55 per cent of customers remained disconnected.

On Tuesday, July 16, in a statement to Parliament, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said power had been restored to approximately 655,000 JPS customers, which represented 94.6 per cent of the customer base of the company.