ONE week into the job, the new Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) President and CEO Hugh Grant has declared the rebuilding of sections of the St Elizabeth network as necessary — a scope far more extensive than that of restoration.

The president made the point at a meeting held Friday with St Elizabeth Members of Parliament (MPs) and mayor of Black River Councillor Richard Solomon to discuss the status of electricity supply to the southern parish.

“This is a reset which calls for different levels of planning and resource allocation,” Grant pointed out. “It is a whole different scope and mindset.”

The group, which also included JC Hutchinson, minister of state in the Ministry of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport and Member of Parliament for St Elizabeth North Western; Delroy Sloley, MP for St Elizabeth North Eastern; Donovan Pagon, councillor, Braes River; and Kenroy James, representing Floyd Green, MP for St Elizabeth South Western, raised various concerns on behalf of residents about the return of power to a number of communities.

The JPS president indicated that the company has over 100 men on the ground in the parish, with more than double that number due to arrive in short order as well as increased equipment and supplies. He also committed to keeping the parish leadership updated and providing reliable timelines for the communities.

All of St Elizabeth is slated to return to normality by August 31.