Widespread electricity theft behind lack of working streetlights in Rocky Point, Clarendon – JPS

The Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) is reporting that the ongoing problem of a lack of electricity being experienced in Rocky Point, Clarendon is due to outages caused by widespread electricity theft from streetlights.

In a media release on Friday, JPS noted that illegal connections are responsible for over 70% of the electricity consumed in the community.

The light and power company stated that the situation is frustrating for both residents and the company, which said JPS crews have had to on multiple occasions effect repairs to the streetlights.

Most recently, on August 30, JPS teams were again in the area repairing streetlamps that should have been able to serve the community for significantly longer periods, JPS noted.

The company said it continues to work in the community and with community leadership to resolve the issues at hand.

Meanwhile, JPS said the company’s teams have also been working closely with the Clarendon Municipal Corporation to maintain streetlights generally in the parish.

During the month of September, JPS teams repaired 70 streetlights in the following fourteen divisions: Denbigh, May Pen East, May Pen West, May Pen North, Mineral Heights, Palmers Cross, Rocky Point, Hayes, York Town, Aenon Town, Frankfield, Thompson Tow,n and Rock River.

JPS noted that across Jamaica, in excess of 98% of streetlights are consistently functional, with 1,120 streetlights being repaired in the month of September alone, emphasising that it has an active streetlight repair programme.

“Acts of theft and vandalism not only undermine the work of the company, but more importantly, undermine the safety of fellow citizens.”