KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Government has asked the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) Company to examine the feasibility of relocating sections of its electricity grid underground as it undertakes restoration work in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.

“We’ve given them directives regarding Montego Bay; the Elegant Corridor and Hip Strip would be two areas where focus would be given to put the grid underground,” said Prime Minister Andrew Holness while speaking Tuesday in the House of Representatives.

He acknowledged that going underground is expensive “so we have to balance between expense and getting the grid up”.

“But if we are getting the grid up and we can get some resilience in it then we have to get the resilience in,” he added.

The Elegant Corridor and Hip Strip in the heart of the tourism capital suffered severe damage from the hurricane.

Meanwhile, the prime minister said restoration of power is proceeding in phases, prioritising hospitals, water plants, communications backbones, and dense residential zones.

The “all clear for restoration of utility services” enabled JPS and independent contractors to enter the field at scale, while the ministry with responsibility for energy is coordinating grid stabilisation and resolving localised issues such as low voltage on restored feeders, according to Holness.

He told the House that the Government has given JPS strategic direction to prioritise restoration of large commercial and urban centres in addition to the critical public facilities.

“We will continue to update the country on parish-by-parish re-energisation percentages as the network is repaired and rebuilt,” he said.