The Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) is reporting that some 257 utility poles were impacted in the parish of St Elizabeth during the passage of Hurricane Beryl.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness made the revelation as he gave an update on the restoration of utilities in Parliament on Tuesday (July 9).

“Madam Speaker, the JPS reports that for St Elizabeth, 257 poles were down, 225 insulators and cross arms were damaged, and 105 conductors and 13 transformers were damaged,” Holness informed.

The prime minister mused that given the extent of the damage in the parish, restoration efforts will take weeks to complete.

“Madam Speaker, I want to assure all Jamaicans that the government is monitoring the progress closely, and we will do everything possible to accelerate the timeline for restoration,” Holness said.

JPS reported that as of July 9, power was restored to some 692,000 customers or 84 per cent across the island.

Some residents in St Elizabeth also began receiving electricity early Tuesday morning after the parish was severely impacted by Hurricane Beryl.

On the matter of water supply, approximately 65 per cent of the National Water Commission (NWC) customers now have water.

The prime minister said the restoration of water supply is dependent on the restoration of electricity, which is needed to power water pumps. He said the government is working in the interim to source generators and truck water to residents.

“We have not developed our water systems with independent power supplies. Our water system depends on the utility electricity supply, and it has served us well. The way it has operated, has served us well. But as we seek to build resilience, and as I said, the recovery, Madam Speaker, gives us the opportunity to make strategic decisions that will ease some of the immediate pressure and give us the long-term endurance to withstand and recover from other shocks like Beryl that may come,” Holness said.

Holness further said he has given a directive to Matthew Samuda, minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation with responsibility for water, to develop a plan to secure independent power supply for critical pumping stations across the island.

Meanwhile, the prime minister said mobile and internet connectivity have been largely restored to most urban centres. He said efforts are ongoing to re-establish full coverage in rural areas.

Flow reports that its population coverage as of July 8, is 81 per cent while Digicel reports 85 per of population coverage.