Government Accelerates Power Restoration with Arrival of Additional JPS Equipment
Prime Minister Dr. the Most Honourable Andrew Holness has underscored the Government’s commitment to the rapid restoration and strengthening of Jamaica’s electricity grid, as 175 additional specialized vehicles were officially handed over to the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) Company to accelerate recovery efforts following Hurricane Melissa.
The new fleet includes bucket trucks, diggers, pole trailers, and support units that will reinforce ongoing restoration work, particularly in communities still awaiting the return of electricity. The equipment will support Jamaican, Caribbean, and international crews currently working alongside JPS linemen to restore service to the remaining 10 percent of customers islandwide.
With this latest handover, the total number of specialized vehicles deployed since Hurricane Melissa struck on October 28 has increased to 247, significantly expanding the operational capacity required to complete restoration safely and efficiently.
Speaking last Friday at the handover ceremony, Prime Minister Holness said the Government’s recovery strategy is deliberately anchored in restoring electricity as a foundation for national recovery.
“The government’s strategy for restoration relies heavily on the restoration of electricity. So, we are driving recovery and restoration by driving the recovery of the electricity sector,” the Prime Minister said.
Dr. Holness highlighted that Jamaica has achieved approximately 90 percent islandwide power restoration, with recovery in the most affected parishes now approaching 70 percent, describing the response as strong by international standards.
“All the records show that Jamaica’s performance is above its peer and very close to first-world standards. I think that that is a creditable response on the part of the government and on the part of the JPS,” he said.
The Prime Minister also pointed to recent economic data as evidence that Jamaica’s recovery is extending beyond infrastructure and into broader economic performance. He noted that the Planning Institute of Jamaica reported economic growth of over five percent in the most recent quarter, despite the severe disruption caused by Hurricane Melissa.
“When Jamaica was hit by crises in the past, our growth would not have been within quarters. Our growth would have been within decades. What we have seen under my administration is that the ability of the economy to head back to growth within the year of the impact is phenomenal,” the Prime Minister said.
Dr. Holness attributed this performance to growing economic resilience, describing it as the country’s capacity to absorb shocks, recover quickly, and emerge stronger.
Importantly, Prime Minister Holness also addressed the Government’s decision to facilitate financing to JPS to accelerate grid restoration, emphasizing that electricity is a public good that underpins economic activity, national security, and daily life.
“The JPS provides a public service. In effect, the JPS provides a public good. Therefore, the government must do everything in its power to ensure that our electricity grid is up and running effectively.”
The Prime Minister further emphasized that restoration efforts are being carried out equitably, including in rural and hard-to-reach communities, regardless of population density or economic output.
“What we are taking into account is that you are a citizen of Jamaica, and you are entitled to having access to your electricity,” the Prime Minister said.
In the meantime, Prime Minister Holness indicated that the recovery effort is also being used as an opportunity to build long-term resilience into the national grid, including stronger poles, microgrids, underground lines, and resilient corridors for critical infrastructure.
“The strength of the recovery is not just to restore; it is to build forward, not to build back. We are going to be building Jamaica forward, and we are going to be building Jamaica better than it was before.”