Steady Progress in Power and Water Restoration Across St. James

• In an effort to restore essential services in the hurricane’s aftermath, Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) has now provided power to several communities and are now moving into the business district of Montego Bay. Fairview is fully powered and power has been restored to the section supplying the parish’s liquified natural gas (LNG) infrastructure, a critical area that supplies energy to the JPS Bogue Power plant.
• JPS is prioritising the restoration of electricity in critical service areas before extending efforts to residential communities. The company is now running power from the Bevin Avenue area to Queen’s Drive, which will go to power Sangster International Airport. Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH), the Bogue treatment plant and the Great River pump station all have had their power restored. The next step will be to re-energize the grids that lead to larger communities, followed by the smaller off-route areas.
• Regarding water supply, Councillor Vernon noted that the National Water Commission (NWC) has resumed distribution to several communities – a development that will significantly aid ongoing clean-up and sanitation efforts.
• The National Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), the national coordinating body for disaster management, activated by the Office of Disaster Preparedness & Emergency Management (ODPEM) in response to Hurricane Melissa, continues to closely monitor all developments to ensure the safe and orderly restoration of essential services. NEOC and parish EOC are working closely with JPS and NWC and are on the pathway to full restoration across the parish of St James. Mayor Vernon urged residents to exercise patience as the recovery process continues, reaffirming that “the mission remains the same – restoration, clean-up, and monitoring.”

(Source: JIS)