Western Jamaica is being reassured that electricity restoration will not pause for the holidays as 117 Canadian linemen arrived last week to boost round-the-clock recovery efforts after Hurricane Melissa. Energy Minister Daryl Vaz said teams will work straight through Christmas and New Year to meet promised timelines, with most customers expected to be reconnected by late January. With additional overseas crews and equipment on the way, JPS CEO Hugh Grant stressed that the operation is more than restoration — it is a full redesign and rebuild across several parishes.

More overseas linesmen arrive to boost electricity restoration

Jamaica Gleaner/19 Dec 2025Albert Ferguson/Gleaner Writer 

Hugh Grant (left), CEO of the Jamaica Public Service, and Energy Minister Daryl Vaz in discussion during the arrival of 117 linesmen from Canada at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, St James, on Wednesday.

WESTERN BUREAU: THERE IS a renewed sense of hope in western Jamaica following Wednesday’s arrival of 117 linemen from the Canadian company Graystone who are equipped with heavyduty equipment to speed up the electricity-restoration programme in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.

Energy Minister Daryl Vaz and Jamaica Public Service Company CEO Hugh Grant were present at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, St James, to welcome the linesmen, the third group to arrive in Jamaica within two days.

Vaz said the Government and the JPS are now working closely together to honour the restoration timelines, which thousands of affected residents are banking on.

“Some people will get light by Christmas, some by New Year, and the majority by mid-january to the end of January. That’s a commitment,” said the minister, stressing that the restoration operation would not pause for the holidays.

“This is a 24/7 focus until the people get light. We try to fit in Christmas with maybe a piece of ham, but right now, this is the work,” he added.

“I know a lot of you are still out in the darkness. I know the anxiety, the frustration, and the misery, but we’re doing everything we can collaboratively between JPS and the Government of Jamaica. I just want to give the people some hope,”vaz added, noting that the number of overseas workers had exceeded initial projections.

“This is the third aircraft that has arrived in the last two days. The numbers so far have exceeded the 200 that was projected out of the 300,” he said. “I think we are close to 228 if I’m not mistaken. The remaining 70 to 80 workers are expected to arrive on December 23, ahead of the arrival of critical equipment by sea.”

He said that the first barge would arrive on the 24th and the second on the 25th, with more than 200 pieces of equipment.

“JPS is living up to their commitment based on the arrangement and understanding we have with the funds that we have provided,” he added.

PACE EXTRAORDINARY

While acknowledging that the process has not been perfect so far, Vaz said the pace of mobilisation has been extraordinary, given the timing and scale of the operation.

“Cabinet approval only came two months ago, and JPS only got board approval last week. To be in this position tonight is huge,” he said.

According to Grant, the arrival of international crews represents a critical boost to an already massive recovery effort.

“Just over 50 days after the hurricane, we have restored power to 84 per cent of our customers,” said Grant, who credited roundthe-clock operations, careful planning, and crews working under difficult conditions for the success.

“In parishes like Westmoreland, St Elizabeth, Hanover, and St James, what we are seeing is not restoration. It is redesign and rebuild. There are hundreds of poles down, some still in water. Circuits have to be redesigned and rerouted, and that requires additional resources and equipment,” he explained.

In speaking to what the overseas linesmen are bringing to the table, Grant said they have specialised tools, which the local workers will also be able to use to speed up the restoration.

“Our crews are working 24/7, and we remain committed to restoring power as safely and as timely as possible,” he said.

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