“It’s been too long. We are at our wit’s end,” says the Spalding Citizens’ Association in Clarendon, as the organisation condemns the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) for the prolonged power outage in the area following the passage of Hurricane Beryl earlier this month.
JPS’ director of corporate communications, Winsome Callum, said power was restored to some areas, and work was being done to get other areas back on the grid.
A timeline for restoration, however, was not indicated.
In a statement, the association urges JPS to move with alacrity to restore power, citing what it says is the company’s lack of preparedness for the hurricane season.
“While the passage of Hurricane Beryl was not of our doing, the effects are telling of a company that was clearly not ready for the hurricane season. The extent of the damage is a reflection of the lack of proper maintenance to the company’s infrastructure, especially in the rural areas.”
The statement continued: “It begs the question; how much worse it would be if Hurricane Beryl had directly hit the island. It is now almost three weeks we have been without power, and we have simply had it!”
Several communities, including Spalding Hill, Glencoe, Baileston, Sanquinetti, Alston, Grantham, and Pecham, remain without power.
Knox College and Spalding High School are also without power, The Gleaner understands.
The association is demanding answers: “How much longer must we wait? Are there any other avenues the company can take to increase the boots on the ground? What is the consideration of the recommendation of the Minister to get help from within the region?”
The association says the experience underscores the need for a second power supply company on the island, or “look at other models of electricity distribution as in Europe.”
– Olivia Brown
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