WATER AND electricity have been restored to most of the island following the passage of hurricanes Dennis and Emily, which both veered off the northeast and south coasts, respectively, in the past two weeks.
The Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) said yesterday that about 300 of the 80,000 customers affected by Emily on Saturday were still without electricity, mainly in the parishes of St. Elizabeth, St. Mary, St. Thomas and St. Ann.
The communities that are still without electricity in St. St. Andrew are Mavis Bank, Newcastle and surrounding communities. In St. Thomas the affected communities include Richmond Gap, Albion Mountain, Ness Castle and Mount Felix.
"In addition, the company is continuing efforts to return service to the approximately 500 customers in north St. Andrew and St. Thomas who have not had electricity supply since the passage of Hurricane Dennis just over a week ago," a statement from JPS corporate communications manager, Winsome Callum, said yesterday.
She said the delay in the restoration of electricity to the remaining affected customers was due primarily to inaccessibility as a result of blocked roads.
WORKING TO CLEAR BLOCKED ROADS
The light and power company, however, said it was working with the 'relevant agencies' to clear blocked roads in order for the necessary equipment to be moved into these areas.
Meanwhile, the National Water Commission (NWC) said only about eight per cent of its customers were still without tap water.
Charles Buchanan, corporate communications manager at the NWC, explained that supply was restored up to 95 per cent immediately after Dennis drenched the island. However, he said Hurricane Emily had further damaged the NWC's systems.
He said the adverse weather condition also delayed restoration of the Seaview pumping station in Stony Hill, which was was disabled when the main pipeline leading from the Ginger River in the Blue Mountains was displaced by landslides. Mr. Buchanan said work has restarted with the aid of donkeys to transport equipment over the rough terrain and the repairs should be completed in the next two days.
He said the majority of affected customers were currently in the NWC's western division, especially in St. Elizabeth where severe flooding damaged several of its facilities.
In the meantime, Mr. Buchanan said the commission was currently conducting an assessment of the damage to its infrastructure. He said the NWC in the interim is trucking water to the affected areas.
