News
JAM | Dec 9, 2025

$150M loan secured for Western Jamaica electricity restoration, 300 linemen to arrive before Christmas

Toriann Ellis

Toriann Ellis / Our Today

author
Reading Time: < 1 minute
Minister of Energy Daryl Vaz addresses a press conference at Jamaica House on Tuesday (November 11). (Photo: JIS)

Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications, and Transport Daryl Vaz says after long negotiations with the Jamaica Public Service, the $150M loan for the accelerated restoration of electricity to Western Jamaica has been signed off on.

This loan will facilitate an additional 300 linemen and equipment arriving in Jamaica within a few weeks before Christmas, working through into the New Year.

“This will also facilitate the extension of the service of the 170 linemen currently in Jamaica, whose engagement would have ended this week,” Vaz said.

According to Vaz, the original plan was for the current teams to be demobilised this week, but the government intervened to keep them in place.

He noted that the reinforced crews will push national restoration from 80 per cent to 90 per cent during Christmas and the new year, acknowledging that the new schedule is far quicker than JPS’s original projections, which showed some communities could have been waiting until May 2026.

Tags
Christmas Daryl Vaz electricity Jamaica Public Service linesmen western Jamaica

Comments

What To Read Next

News JAM Dec 10, 2025

Vaz confirms critical infrastructure back to normal after hurricane

Reading Time: 3 minutesMinister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications, and Transport Daryl Vaz has provided a sweeping update on the nation’s post-Hurricane Melissa recovery efforts, confirming the restoration of normal operations across critical sectors, including a stable fuel supply at Petrojam, the successful facilitation of over 3,000 flights at the airports, and the reopening of key national transportation corridors.

Vaz said in regards to Petrojam, the country’s fuel supply remains stable and secure, with the Kingston industrial loading rack resuming operation within 48 hours of Hurricane Melissa.
News JAM Dec 10, 2025

Government pledges additional support through the National Energy Poverty Reduction Project

Reading Time: 2 minutesMinister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications, and Transport Daryl Vaz announced that additional support through the National Energy Poverty Reduction Project is underway for persons impacted by Hurricane Melissa.

“I want to speak to the government’s targeted support for vulnerable households. Some of the previously allocated one billion dollars under the National Energy Poverty Reduction Project will be used to assist families severely impacted by Hurricane Melissa.”