Residents of Lime Tree Ground in St Catherine blocked a roadway with debris and set it on fire in protest over lack of electricity since the passage of Hurricane Melissa just over a week ago.

The irate residents complained that surrounding communities have been restored with electricity since the storm, yet they remain without the service.

“One light post, a hold up the whole lane, them come yesterday say them ago put up the light — nothing. Then them a talk bout three month before we get light here so,” one resident told Observer Online.

Hurricane Melissa made landfall last Tuesday in the southwest of Jamaica as a ferocious Category 5 storm with estimated 185 mph winds and torrential rainfall, killing more than 30 people and leaving nearly 80 per cent of Jamaica Public Service (JPS) customers in darkness.

According to the JPS, the damage to both its transmission and distribution networks has been significant.

Still, at a press conference on Monday, the company said it has made significant progress in the restoration of power in Kingston, St Andrew, St Thomas, Portmore and the wider St Catherine.

However, according to JPS CEO Hugh Grant, “In St Catherine, you have areas such as Spanish Town, Guys Hill, Bog Walk and Central Village that are currently out, and we are working 24/7 to have your power restored within the next two weeks.”

(Video: Jason Cross)