On Tuesday, July 23rd, the first of two teams from the Caribbean Utilities Company, Ltd. (“CUC”) Transmission & Distribution (T&D) Operations department departed Grand Cayman to assist the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) in restoring power following the devastation caused by Hurricane Beryl on July 2nd and 3rd. The Power Line Technicians (PLTs) will focus their efforts in the St. Elizabeth area, which suffered substantial damage. Their mission is expected to last approximately three weeks. The second team will be departing for Jamaica on Monday, July 29th.
Leading the team is Leighton Barnes, Manager T&D Construction Maintenance, and 41-year CUC veteran and Supervisor Line Services Geraude “Gerry” Holness. The team includes Nathaniel Augustine, Christopher Ebanks, Miguel Goulbourne, Nadir Pott, Deleon Boyden and Chris Kozun. All members are experienced and trained in pole climbing, a vital skill given the challenging terrain and potential scarcity of vehicles and equipment in St. Elizabeth.
CUC, as a member of the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC), has a longstanding history of participating in restoration efforts throughout the Caribbean, dating back to the early 1990s. The utility has previously assisted in Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, the Turks & Caicos Islands and twice in The Bahamas, most recently in 2019 following the passing of Hurricane Dorian. CARILEC’s Hurricane Action Plan facilitates the rapid deployment and coordination of emergency PLT teams from member utilities to support the restoration of transmission and distribution systems after hurricanes.
Robert Whorms, CUC’s Director of Energy Delivery, stated, “We are committed to assisting JPS in restoring critical electrical infrastructure in Jamaica. CUC has consistently provided support to utilities across the region in times of need. This structured aid programme is essential for the timely and safe restoration of power in hurricane-affected areas.”
The two crews are scheduled to return to the Cayman Islands in August.
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