More linemen arrive to help restore electricity in Westmoreland and St Elizabeth
KINGSTON, Jamaica — A second contingent of Caribbean linemen has arrived in Jamaica, with additional crews expected, as the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) advances into the final stages of power restoration following the devastation caused by Category 5 Hurricane Melissa.
The regional workers are in Jamaica under a mutual assistance agreement among Caribbean electric utilities, coordinated through the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC), which sees member countries assisting each other in the face of disaster.
The latest group includes linemen from Barbados, Belize, Grand Bahama, Nevis, St Lucia, and the US Virgin Islands. They join earlier teams from 17 Caribbean nations that were among the first to respond after Hurricane Melissa struck. Several countries, including Trinidad and Tobago, the Cayman Islands and Grand Bahama, also deployed bucket trucks and other heavy equipment to supplement local resources during the restoration effort.
In a statement issued Friday, JPS said the outpouring of regional support highlights the strength of Caribbean cooperation and the spirit of Caribbean solidarity and brotherhood. The company noted that the early mobilisation of regional partners, along with continued assistance and support from North American contractors, has significantly bolstered its response to the widespread damage caused by the October 28, 2025 hurricane.
Additional countries represented on the ground include Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, the British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Guyana, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Curaçao. To date, more than 100 Caribbean linemen have been deployed to assist with recovery efforts.
JPS emphasised that the current phase of restoration, referred to as the “last mile”, is especially challenging, with high intensity efforts yielding fewer customers, due to a number of factors, including the challenging nature of the terrain and the scattered populations in deep rural areas.
However, the company has assured customers, particularly those still without electricity, that it remains fully committed to restoring service as quickly and safely as possible.
