Vaz says electricity restoration data from JPS 'flawed'

Energy Minister Daryl Vaz says the information being shared by the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) on power restoration is “flawed” and does not correspond with what is happening on the ground.

Vaz, who was speaking at Wednesday's post-Cabinet press briefing from Jamaica House, said more than 20 members of parliament have complained to him that the majority of their constituencies are still without electricity three weeks after the passage of Hurricane Beryl.

“This leads me to the point of where the information that is coming out of JPS and what is happening on the ground is at odds and we have got to find a way to make sure that we are all on the same page,” he said.

Vaz said the disparity between what JPS is reporting and what MPs are saying means that there must be a disconnect regarding information being fed to the power company's control centre from its regional posts.

“I am saying as a rural member of parliament I can unequivocally say as it relates to Portland that what they have put out there in terms of the amount of customers still disconnected and the communities that are still out of power is absolutely flawed,” Vaz said.

There have been several protests in communities across the island with frustrated customers decrying the lack of power.

The JPS said it has restored electricity to 95 per cent of its customer base. It said 100 per cent power has been restored to hospitals and major healthcare facilities and has pledged to have the full restoration of power to the hardest hit communities by August 5.

- Kimone Francis

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