Fifty-nine linesmen from the United States and Canada arrived in the island on Friday as the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) strengthened is capacity to restore service in the event that Tropical Storm Melissa makes landfall and inflicts damage to the electricity network.

Their arrival brings to approximately 650 the number of such professionals — Jamaicans, Vincentians and North Americans — skilled in the construction, maintenance, and repair of high-voltage electrical power and telecommunications lines who will be deployed by JPS to affected areas after Melissa, which is forecast to gain hurricane strength, passes.

The majority of the linesmen who arrived on Friday are from Sovereign Line Group in the United States.

Roger Campbell, a general foreman for the company, said that while he is in Jamaica he is merely a worker and is excited to be able to help.

“We are just here to bring the power back on, whatever happens. I am excited to be here to help out. It is my first time in Jamaica,” he told the Jamaica Observer at Norman Manley International Airport shortly after the group’s arrival.

Caleb Young, a general foreman at Sovereign Group, was also excited at the opportunity to do good in Jamaica. He underscored the importance of the team being on the island well before the storm hits.

“We are excited to come and help. It is a new experience for all of us. We come here hoping there is no damage and everybody stays safe. We are glad we got here early before the storm. It is very important for us to be here early because once the storm hits it could shut down airports and affect travel. We will be ready to get guys to work and get the power back on as soon as we can,” he said.

Jeff Files, another general foreman at Sovereign Group, said that the decision to help Jamaica was a no-brainer.

“This is my first time in Jamaica. When the idea came up, I was excited. The company said, ‘We have a chance to go and help some fine people in Jamaica. Let’s go do it. Let’s go for it.’ We are here to restore power. Our company, Sovereign Line Group, got the ball rolling with JPS, and JPS has done a great job with getting us here,” Files told the Observer.

Another member of the team, Chris Stacy, appeared to have given deep thought to visiting Jamaica with his family for vacation.

“To be here in Jamaica, I am excited, but I wish it were under different circumstances. I am just going to take what I have for now and make the best of it. The beaches, the good food and drinks; I hope to come back and be able to enjoy that next time,” Stacy said.

Tania McDonald-Tomlinson, director of people operations and special projects at JPS, said the arrival of the linesmen represents planning by the light and power provider.

“We are just trying to make sure that we are being logical and planning and making sure we can execute so that light will be on. We are making sure people are here, ready to be deployed wherever on the island they are needed so they can start the process quickly,” McDonald-Tomlinson, who welcomed the group on Friday, told the Observer.

“Today we have a total of 59 coming in. There are three different flights, but 59 people in total. We already have some crew members here from St Vincent, they came in earlier this week. These are the best of the best,” she said, explaining that the plan to bring in overseas linesmen before the arrival of Melissa were put in place once the Atlantic Hurricane Season started.

“This was a plan coming out of what happened with Beryl last year, where we got the crews in after, which, of course, added a bit more time to what needed to be a very timely execution of a project,” she explained.

Linesmen are critical for ensuring reliable electricity delivery, working in challenging conditions to install poles, wires, and equipment, and responding to power outages caused by natural disasters. Their employers are typically utility companies and private contractors.

Sovereign Line Group General Foreman Jeff Files telling the Jamaica Observer shortly after he and a group of linesmen from the United States and Canada arrived in Jamaica on Friday that the decision to come and help the island was a no-brainer.

Tania McDonald-Tomlinson (centre), director of people operations at Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) engages volunteer linesmen from Sovereign Line Group in the United States at Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston after their arrival on Friday. They were among 59 linesmen who flew into the island to help the JPS restore power as quickly as possible after the passage of Tropical Storm Melissa. (Photo: Karl Mclarty)

Sovereign Line Group General Foreman Caleb Young speaking with the Jamaica Observer shortly after he and a group of linesmen from the United States and Canada arrived in Jamaica on Friday. “We will be ready to get guys to work and get the power back on as soon as we can,” he said.