This multi-storey house in Irish Town, St Andrew, escaped damage during landslides associated with Tropical Storm Gustav last week. - Norman Grindley/acting Photography editor
Utility companies across the country are working feverishly to restore electricity and water to communities still without the services since the country was impacted by Tropical Storm Gustav between last Thursday and Friday.
The Jamaica Public Service (JPS) says it has restored electricity to approximately 92 per cent of its 584,000 customers.
In a release, the JPS said flooding, hilly terrain and impassable roads have affected the speed at which the restoration of electricity takes place in sections of Portland, St Andrew and St Mary.
The utility company has urged customers to be patient and exercise safety by refraining from making attempts to restore their own power supply. Instead, the electricity provider is encouraging its customers to report any damage to JPS power lines to its customer care centre.
Several communities have been without electricity since last Thursday when Gustav hit the country.
Efforts being made
Meanwhile, Charles Buchanan, public relations manager at the National Water Commission (NWC), told The Gleaner that efforts were being made to restore water to communities still without the service. He said the NWC was working in conjunction with the JPS in this regard. Electricity is needed to power some of the NWC's facilities.
And executive director of the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), Joan Gordon-Webley, was in Golden Spring and Lawrence Tavern, in West Rural St Andrew yesterday, leading a team through a maintenance and restoration operation. She told The Gleaner that teams were mobilised and deployed to carry out work islandwide.
"We have been doing a lot of desilting around town for the past couple of days", she said.
Gordon-Webley urged persons to contact any of the NSWMA's regional offices, all of which have remained open to assist persons islandwide.
JPS Customer Care Centre
1-888-225-5577/ 1-888- CALL-JPS
