Mon | Mar 9, 2026

Streetlight programme to resume following hurricane disruption

Published:Monday | March 9, 2026 | 9:25 PM
Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Desmond McKenzie (centre, front), responds to questions during a meeting of the Standing Finance Committee of the House of Representatives at Gordon House on March 6. He is joined by Minister of State
JIS News
Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Desmond McKenzie (centre, front), responds to questions during a meeting of the Standing Finance Committee of the House of Representatives at Gordon House on March 6. He is joined by Minister of State, Delroy Williams (left, front); Permanent Secretary, Marsha Henry-Martin (right, front) and other representatives from the Ministry.

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Desmond McKenzie, has assured citizens that the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) will soon resume the installation and repair of streetlights across the island.

This follows a disruption in the programme caused by the widespread damage to the island’s power grid during Hurricane Melissa.

In his 2025/26 Sectoral Debate presentation, McKenzie announced that an additional 22,800 streetlights will be installed across the country over the next two years.

He noted that each of the island’s 228 municipal divisions will receive 50 new streetlights annually.

During a meeting of the Standing Finance Committee of the House of Representatives at Gordon House on March 6, questions were raised regarding reports of defective streetlights in several communities.

In response, McKenzie explained that prior to Hurricane Melissa, the JPS had been actively addressing the issue, carrying out new installations and undertaking repairs of streetlights across the country.

“The Ministry had been working with them… and based on the work that was done by the YSEP (Youth Summer Employment Programme) workers in August, we were able to identify communities across the country where the lights were not working and where the lights were installed. But Melissa came, and a lot has been put in the way of continuing,” he stated.

McKenzie added that, following discussions between the Ministry and the JPS, he expects the company to resume normal operations across the country as soon as possible.

- JIS News

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