WESTMORELAND, Jamaica — Energy Minister Daryl Vaz says the Government has allocated $165 million towards the national energy poverty reduction project to support households in Westmoreland affected by Hurricane Melissa.

Vaz, who made the announcement during the official launch of the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) emergency mobile power generation unit in Westmoreland on Sunday, said this sum is part of the previously announced $1.1 billion allocated for the implementation of the project for most affected households.

“That means that other parishes that are not as badly affected like Portland, like St Thomas, like St Mary, like St Catherine, like Kingston and St Andrew, we have put those projects on hold and diverted the money to the five western parishes,” Vaz said.

He said this allocation will go towards mobilising support such as house wiring, remedial work, and government electrical regulator certification.

The project commenced in December 2025 and will run until March 2026.

Meanwhile, JPS Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Hugh Grant, also announced that 60 per cent of customers in Westmoreland now have electricity.

The power company also launched an emergency mobile power generation unit in the parish on Sunday which is expected to restore electricity to sections of affected communities while the network is being re-established.

According to the energy minister, the plant is expected to be commissioned in Bethel Town, Westmoreland by the end of next week.

Member of Parliament for Westmoreland Eastern, Dr Dayton Campbell, expressed gratitude for the energy solution.

“I am grateful for the creative solution that is here so that persons within here can benefit. I look forward to the generator in Bethel Town being up and running as well,” Campbell said.