JPS lights up Treasure Beach

WESTERN BUREAU:

A large Jamaica Public Service (JPS) Emergency Mobile Power Generation Unit now supplying electricity to Treasure Beach and surrounding communities was officially launched on Wednesday, marking a major step forward in restoring power to St Elizabeth following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa.

The temporary unit, unveiled at Jack Sprat Lawn, is powering just under 1,000 homes and represents a shift in how JPS is approaching restoration – placing greater emphasis on innovation, partnerships, and creative problem-solving, according to JPS President and Chief Executive Officer Hugh Grant.

“Only a few weeks ago, I did a walk-through, and today we are here with a solution deployed to power just under 1,000 homes in the Treasure Beach area,” Grant said, referencing the launch of the Emergency Mobile Generation Unit.

Treasure Beach, he explained, presented a unique opportunity for such an intervention. While many distribution lines remained intact because of earlier hurricane-hardening work following Hurricane Beryl, the transmission infrastructure required to bring power into the area suffered significant damage during Hurricane Melissa.

“After the hurricane, it was clear that rebuilding permanent infrastructure will take lots of time. So, rather than asking the community to wait, we came up with a creative solution – a temporary generator here in Treasure Beach to power the community and its surrounding areas,” Grant said.

Accordingly, he said, JPS remains acutely aware of the hardships being experienced by customers, particularly during the festive season.

“The context that has not been lost on us is that we still have customers without power during this festive season. That is why we have brought in additional resources to help to expedite the restoration efforts and make the necessary progress,” he noted.

According to Grant, restoration efforts have now entered their most difficult phase, with the remaining 12 per cent of customers located in areas requiring intensive labour and complex engineering solutions.

88 PER CENT OF ELECTRICITY RESTORED

“The most accessible and interconnected parts of the network were rebuilt first, allowing electricity to reach the greatest numbers of customers as quickly as possible,” Grant said, noting that, up to Tuesday night, 88 per cent of affected areas nationwide had been restored. “The remaining 12 per cent of our customers represent the most complex and resource-intensive phase of the restoration efforts.”

To illustrate the challenge, Grant compared different work zones within St Elizabeth.

“Look at it this way: areas such as Junction to Watchwell – one work package with just 100 defects would give us back 7,500 customers. On the other hand, areas like Pedro Cross to Fort Charles, we have repaired over 400 defects but only restored 1,000 customers,” he said.

“As you go into the last mile, it takes additional resources to maintain the pace of restoration, because the damage is so severe, the terrain is more difficult, and communities are more disturbed,” Grant added. “The final phase of restoration is no longer only about scale; it’s about details, stronger partnerships and stronger communications.”

Grant stressed that recovery now goes beyond infrastructure.

“Restoration is not just about lines and poles. It goes beyond numbers. It needs creativity, innovation – pulling out all the stops to power businesses and communities,” he said.

Energy Minister Daryl Vaz said the initiative was made possible through decisive government intervention, including a US$150-million loan to JPS that was negotiated and signed in record time.

“The bottom line is the Government of Jamaica has gotten the support of the multilaterals, and the world has paid attention to our catastrophe and has helped in some ways,” Vaz said. “But, with all that help, if JPS didn’t get the resources, they can only do so much and no more.”

He said the Government faced a critical decision.

“Do we extend their licence and allow them to raise the capital, or do we lend them the money and keep the licence separate?” Vaz asked. “I stand here today to say the US$150 million that the Government of Jamaica loaned to JPS happened in under three weeks.”

Vaz credited the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service and senior officials for their swift action and pointed to visible results on the ground.

“If the results we are seeing now are where we are at 88 per cent, then we are seeing the results of the light – the loan,” he said, noting that more than 300-line workers are deployed across western parishes.

Acknowledging the continued hardship faced by many families, Grant reflected on the deeper meaning of the restoration effort.

“Regardless of the challenges, regardless of all that Melissa has presented to us, there is comfort in familiar rhythms. There is comfort in family gatherings, and there is comfort in knowing that the light will be back,” he said.

albert.ferguson@gleanerjm.com