BEL Sends Second Crew to Jamaica After Hurricane Melissa

Belize Electricity Limited is once again lending support beyond our borders, deploying a second team of power line technicians to Jamaica to assist with electricity restoration following Hurricane Melissa. The team departed Belize on Sunday, January fourth, to support the Jamaica Public Service Company Limited, the island’s sole electricity provider. Led by Technical Supervisor Jeremy Jex, the team includes six BEL employees. They are working alongside regional crews coordinated through the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation, or CARILEC. This deployment builds on the efforts of BEL’s first team, which was sent to Jamaica in November and has since returned home after helping restore up to eighty-four percent of power in storm affected communities. BEL’s Manager of Distribution Operations Ashton Webster says his team is highly trained and prepared for such missions that underscores Belize’s commitment to regional solidarity and cooperation.

 

Shane Williams

“What training prepared them to take on something like this?”

 

Ashton Webster, Manager of Distribution Operations, BEL

“So we have an in-house apprenticeship program that we do. It’s balanced with theoretical knowledge. So we teach them classroom session and also they provide – we provide them with the knowhow, knowledge, experience for climbing, for changing of structures. All of that we do here. So throughout the years they’re able to safely complete any type of restoration work. It’s years of experience, years of investment. And we are one of the – I would say one of the highest, we have one of the highest standard in terms of our apprenticeship program in the world actually.”

 

BEL teams are once again answering the call, helping restore power in Jamaica and reminding us that when disaster strikes in the region, Belize is ready to lend a hand.