Quebec Linemen Rush to Restore Power in Jamaica After Hurricane Melissa

UPDATE: In a heroic response to Hurricane Melissa, 21 linemen from Quebec have arrived in Jamaica to aid in the urgent restoration of electricity across the island. This deployment comes as Jamaica grapples with severe power outages affecting 77 percent of the country, following the hurricane’s devastating impact.

The linemen landed in Jamaica on Friday, September 22, 2023, just before the hurricane made landfall. According to Marc Dube, president of Groupe EEA Inc., the team is set to begin restoring power within the next one to two days. “They will start working on getting some poles straightened up and get some power back on,” Dube confirmed.

With the Jamaican government issuing an “all clear” on Wednesday, utility crews can now commence restoration efforts. Initial work will focus on areas with minimal damage before addressing the most heavily impacted regions. Dube emphasized the critical need for power: “It’s very, very important because people there, they need power for everything, for water.”

This initiative marks the first collaboration between Groupe EEA and Jamaica, prompted by a direct request for assistance from the island’s utility company. Dube is prepared to send an additional 30 linemen if further help is required, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by local communities.

Jamaica’s infrastructure has suffered extensively due to Hurricane Melissa, with reports of flooded roads and destroyed homes compounding the crisis. Dana Morris Dixon, Jamaica’s minister of information, stated, “There is work that’s going to be done to bring that up as quickly as we can but that is a large number,” referring to the substantial portion of the population without electricity.

As the Quebec linemen begin their vital work, the urgency of restoring power remains paramount for the affected communities, with residents anxiously awaiting the return of essential services. The linemen are expected to remain on the island for about a month, ready to tackle the challenging restoration ahead.

Stay tuned for updates as the situation develops in Jamaica and the efforts continue to bring light back to those in need.