Quebec linemen help restore power in Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa

Twenty-one workers from Quebec are helping reconnect communities left in the dark after Hurricane Melissa battered the island.

As Jamaica begins to recover from Hurricane Melissa, linemen from Quebec are on the ground helping to restore electricity to communities left in the dark.

Twenty-one linemen from the province arrived in Jamaica on Friday, before the hurricane even made landfall.

“In one or two days, they will start working on getting some poles straightened up and get some power back on,” said Marc Dube, president of Groupe EEA Inc.

On Wednesday, the government of Jamaica issued an “all clear,” allowing utility crews to begin restoring power. Work is starting first in cities with minimal damage before moving to the hardest-hit areas.

“It’s very, very important because people there, they need power for everything, for water,” said Dube.

He says this is the company’s first time working with Jamaica. Dube adds he got a call from the country’s utility company requesting help.

The crews are expected to stay on the island for about a month. Dube says he is ready to send 30 more linemen if needed.

Their work comes as Hurricane Melissa has left widespread damage, including flooded roads, destroyed homes, and nearly the entire island without electricity.

According to Jamaican officials, 77 per cent of the country is without electricity.

“There is work that’s going to be done to bring that up as quickly as we can but that is a large number,” said Dana Morris Dixon, the minister of information.