Dear Editors,

The absence of electricity since Hurricane Beryl struck has been unbearable.

Jamaica Public Service (JPS) has been struggling to restore power for two weeks following the severe destruction caused by the hurricane. The residents of Trowers Street in Knockpatrick, Manchester, are without water and electricity, with little hope of their return. In an effort to help, we have been climbing tall trees to cut branches hanging on utility lines, risking injury to assist JPS in restoring our electricity.

While we understand that JPS crews are working hard, there appears to be a lack of coordination in their efforts. There also needs to be better collaboration among JPS, National Works Agency (NWA), political representatives, and residents. Although we are not in the worst-affected areas, we still had only single-lane access to parts of the road as of yesterday. If there had been coordination, the NWA or political representatives could have cleared the road, allowing assessments to be done. When possible, residents are willing to help in any way to restore electricity by digging holes to replace broken poles, where it’s safe, and assisting with clearing debris.

Those asking us to be patient have access to water, electricity, and cell reception and cannot understand what it’s like to live without these basic utilities for two weeks after a storm. Hurricane Beryl destroyed my fruit trees, and those I harvested cannot be preserved because we have no electricity.

While National Water Commission systems are dependent on electricity, it would be good if they could truck water to our street. They are well aware that we are without the precious commodity of water yet they seem to forget the area where they read the meters last month. We need help!

We know that our neighbouring parish, St Elizabeth, has suffered similar or worse damage and longer wait times, but that is no comfort to us.

Please get your act together, JPS, and bring us out of the darkness.

Fabian Thomas

Concerned citizen