Underground electrical grid may not be feasible in every location
Published:Monday | December 1, 2025 | 12:06 AM
THE EDITOR, Madam:
As Jamaica considers strategies to harden its electrical grid, the proposal to install underground insulation across the entire system may not be economically feasible. We must assess existing infrastructure and conduct a thorough risk analysis to determine where such measures are truly warranted.
Hurricane Melissa has devastated western Jamaica, yet this tragedy presents an opportunity to rebuild with vision and purpose. Recovery must be guided by a structured redevelopment plan that places families and communities at its core.
A key milestone is the development of a shelter strategy one that ensures safe, dignified housing for displaced residents and offers clear pathways to permanent homes. Public utilities such as electricity, communications and security must also be reinforced to protect resettled areas and restore confidence.
Equally urgent is the restoration of essential services, including healthcare, education, sanitation, and clean water. Rebuilding transportation and utility systems roads, bridges, electricity, and water will reconnect communities and enable commerce. Reliable communications networks are vital for emergency response and economic activity.
While underground electrical lines may offer protection from wind damage, their implementation must be guided by a risk vulnerability study. Our grid comprises transmission lines that connect generation sources to substations, and distribution lines that deliver transformed power to customers via poles often shared with communications providers. Any upgrade must consider the full complexity of this system.
SEPARATE RISKS
Moreover, underground installations carry their own risks. Jamaica is vulnerable to earthquakes and flooding, which can compromise buried infrastructure. Installation would require specialised wiring, trenching with heavy equipment or explosives, reinforced conduits, and concrete casing all before the wires are laid and connections secured. These components, once buried, become harder to inspect and repair, introducing new points of vulnerability.
Long-term resilience demands strategic use of limited resources. Families should be resettled near employment hubs, while commercial and industrial redevelopment must revive local businesses, strengthen industry, and restore tourism as a pillar of Jamaica’s economy.
This is not just about rebuilding structures it is about rebuilding lives. By prioritising shelter, security, essential services, and sustainable economic growth, Jamaica can rise stronger and more resilient.
Policymakers, civic leaders, and citizens should be urged to understand and embrace a sustainable roadmap for western Jamaica’s renewal, one that addresses and reflects both our people’s needs and a solid investment in our nation’s infrastructure and pride.
HUGH BROWN
Pembroke Pines, Florida