Power Moves: JPS Brings in Foreign Linemen as Hurricane Season Heats Up

Jamaica, mi love, is a country that knows storms, from the ones that come off the Atlantic, to the ones that mash up Wi power supply faster than a patty disappears at lunch time. So when news drop that JPS, our very own electricity giant, has linked up with two major North American contracting firms to bring in hundreds of linemen this hurricane season, well, dat nuh normal. That’s a big man move.

Let’s be honest, when hurricane breeze start roll in, and tree dem a lean like dem a catch dub, we know exactly what’s coming next: blackout. The kind weh lef’ yuh fanning wid cardboard, phone battery dead, and fridge full a spoiled food. Mi granny woulda say, “If yuh cyaan prevent the storm, at least prepare fi it.” And JPS seems to tek dat proverb straight to heart.

This new agreement? It’s not just some fancy PR stunt or buzzwords like “resilience” and “strategic partnerships.” It means when storm mash up pole and wire, there won’t be just ten men stretching themselves like tight rope across the island, there’ll be hundreds more, trained and ready. From day one. No delays, no long talking.

JPS head honcho Hugh Grant even call it “game-changing.” And for once, dat nuh feel like hype. These aren’t just spare hands they bringing in. They’re trained storm veterans from Holland Power Services and others. These man dem fix power grids like how Bolt used to fix track meets — quick and efficient.

Now, some might ask: Why foreigners though? We nuh have our own trained people? Fair question. But hear thisin hurricane, when tree deh cross road, flood deh pan highway, and light post a lean like dancehall selecta, is all hands on deck. Our local crews are solid. But supplementing dem wid foreign experts is like bringing in top-flight subs late in the match. It’s not weakness, it’s strategy.

Plus, dem nuh just a fly in blind. The visiting execs already been doing ground recon, learning the lay of the land, scoping our grid like a well-researched mission. Not to mention, this move is backed by more pole replacements, vegetation clearing, and upgraded gear.

So what’s the bigger picture here?

This is about expectation. We as Jamaicans tired of excuse. We tired of candlelight when we never plan romance. JPS hear that. They know the public cyaan tek the ol’ “we working on it” speech while we a sweat inna darkness. So now, they’re stepping up and shockingly, doing it before the crisis reach.

Imagine that. Proactive planning in Jamaica. Who woulda thought?

So yes, while nuff tings still haffi fix — high bills, customer service, and dem text message alerts weh come after the power drop credit where credit is due. If this lineman strategy works, we might finally start seeing the kind of response that matches the price we pay.

Until then, big up the JPS crew, foreign and local, who soon be stringing wire like spider web across the island when the next hurricane try run through. Just remember, storm nah send text before it touch. So every prep count.

Lights on, Jamaica. Let’s see if this new chapter bright like dem LED streetlights.