THE Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) has delivered on its promise of restoring electricity to the sea side town of Black River in St Elizabeth.

The town, which was decimated by Hurricane Melissa, started to receive electricity along its main lines, on Christmas morning. Black River Hospital, the major health facility serving the parish, is also now energised. It is the last major hospital to receive electricity since the natural disaster hit the island.

The promise — which was made on Christmas Eve by JPS President and CEO Hugh Grant during the official commissioning of an Emergency Mobile Power Generation Unit in Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth — was met by cheers and applause, during an event earlier that day in Treasure Beach.

Black River is the last parish capital to receive power following the October 28 Category 5 storm which destroyed the transmission network, dashing any possibility of power being carried from power plants to the distribution network feeding customers.

“Every commitment we have made, we have delivered on, through strong partnerships. Because of partnerships and innovation, Black River will have power by [Christmas] night,” Grant shared at the time.

JPS has also indicated that other Christmas targets met included 95.2 per cent of customers restored in Manchester (against a target of 95 per cent) and 82.2 per cent of customers restored in Trelawny (against a target of 75 per cent).

Grant also announced an innovative first for Jamaica.

Treasure Beach, which is also suffering from the loss of the transmission network, will now be temporarily supplied with power from a new JPS Emergency Mobile Power Generation Unit.

Assembled by local JPS teams, the emergency unit is powering just under 1,000 customers.

This innovative solution will supply not only Treasure Beach, but also Great Bay, Old Fort, Sandy Bank, Frenchman’s Bay, Calabash Bay, Billy’s Bay, and Fort Charles.

Minister of Energy Daryl Vaz — in praising the rate of restoration by JPS which now stands at 88 per cent — argued that the company can compare its response to any First-World country.

“It is miraculous,” declared Vaz as he added that the restoration process by the JPS has shown a level of coordination and collaboration.

Pointing to the Government’s support in facilitating additional linemen across the hardest-hit sections of the island, Vaz argued that it was the compassionate, right decision to make, without which the economy would stagnate.

Member of Parliament for St Elizabeth South Western Floyd Green also commended the JPS team for providing a solution, instead of just looking at the problem.

Green endorsed the company’s restoration protocol, which prioritises commercial areas after essential services.

“This is a day about innovation and hope,” Green declared.

In the meantime, chairman of Jakes Hotel Jason Henzell, in praising the decision by JPS to install an Emergency Mobile Power Generation Unit initiative, pointed out that Treasure Beach is the model for community tourism in the island and, “Many people are hurting [as] they have no home, no food, much less light.”

“We understand the sacrifice made and the advocacy put forward. We have used the opportunity well. People are back at work and repairing their businesses,” added Henzell.

He told the JPS leadership that, “your team has been exceptional.”

Street lights outside Black River Hospital for the first time since Hurricane Melissa decimated the town on October 28, as JPS delivered on the promise to begin restoring power to the town by Christmas Day.