BEL Sends Linemen to Aid Jamaica in Hurricane Beryl Recovery Efforts

The Belize Electricity Limited is responding to Jamaica’s call for technical support in restoring its power infrastructure which was damaged by Hurricane Beryl earlier this month. BEL is preparing to deploy a team of experienced linemen this weekend, following a request made by the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS). Herschel Armstrong, General Manager of Distribution Services for BEL explained that the JPS sent the request through the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC) and that BEL agreed to cover the cost of sending the team.

Herschel Armstrong, General Manager of Distribution Service, BEL: “We were contacted by the CARILEC Secretariat earlier this week and we’ve already now made arrangements with Jamaica for a team of six power line technicians and supervisor from BEL to go and support in their restoration efforts. Those persons will be leaving the country this weekend on Saturday specifically and between the six of them be in Jamaica by Sunday to help out with the works that are already of course ongoing. We have agreed to take on the cost of getting our guys there including all their tools, all the equipment they’ll need and then Jamaica will once they’ve arrived on that side put them up and take care of their arrangements on that end. So all the coordination is really between the two utilities but initially set up through CARILEC. In this case for this trip we are sending I believe two PLT4s, two lead hands, a PLT 3 and a supervisor.”

Armstrong says that the team might tentatively return in mid-August, but the situation might change depending on Jamaica’s needs.

Herschel Armstrong, General Manager of Distribution Service, BEL: “Jamaica has so far indicated that they expect the works to continue for the next three or so weeks. We have cautiously set the return date for these guys to somewhere around the 24th of August I believe so we’re looking at perhaps about a month before they return. Obviously with these things you can never tell or hammer down exactly how long how long some of the work will take. We can tell you that form experience the last leg, that last 10% or so of the work can take majority of your effort because you’re looking at bringing back pockets of customers that may be out and may require extensive works in terms of construction, line construction to get them energized. So we are sending them with the mind that they probably won’t be returning until end of August given that that is perhaps what will be needed for them to be able to get through all the restoration that is required to get back every last customer.”

Armstrong added that Grenada along with St. Vincent and the Grenadines, have not made a request for assistance, but that BEL stands ready to send a team if the need arises.