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BVIEC to join CARLIEC’s restoration efforts in Jamaica

The BVI Electricity Services (BVIEC) will join other regional power companies through the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC) to assist Jamaica following the passage of Hurricane Melissa. Photo: Internet Source
CARILEC Chairman, Mr Wayne M. Caines, reaffirmed CARILEC’s unwavering support for the people of Jamaica following the passage of Hurricane Melissa. Photo: CARILEC
CARILEC Chairman, Mr Wayne M. Caines, reaffirmed CARILEC’s unwavering support for the people of Jamaica following the passage of Hurricane Melissa. Photo: CARILEC
General Manager of BVIEC, Dr Neil M. Smith, said a team from the BVIEC will form part of the larger CARILEC team going to Jamaica to assist with restoration efforts following Hurricane Melissa. Photo: BVIEC
General Manager of BVIEC, Dr Neil M. Smith, said a team from the BVIEC will form part of the larger CARILEC team going to Jamaica to assist with restoration efforts following Hurricane Melissa. Photo: BVIEC
A car drives through the destroyed neighborood following the passage of Hurricane Melissa, in Black River, Jamaica on October 29, 2025. Photo: Ricardo Makyn/AFP via Getty Images
A car drives through the destroyed neighborood following the passage of Hurricane Melissa, in Black River, Jamaica on October 29, 2025. Photo: Ricardo Makyn/AFP via Getty Images
LONG BUSH, Tortola, VI- The BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) will join other regional power companies through the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC) to assist Jamaica following the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

The hurricane hit Jamaica as a Cat 5 on October 28, 2025, and CARILEC Chairman, Mr Wayne M. Caines, reaffirmed CARILEC’s unwavering support to the people of Jamaica, in a press statement on October 27, 2025. 

Preparations began before Melissa made landfall 

The CARILEC Secretariat began mobilising resources and coordinating support from member electric utilities to assist Jamaica and other CARILEC member utilities. 

The Jamaica Public Service (JPS) is the electricity company in Jamaica. 

“Electric utilities from across the region have confirmed their readiness to deploy restoration crews as may be required,” the statement added. 

General Manager of BVIEC, Dr Neil M. Smith, told our news centre today, October 30, 2025, “CARILEC will be sending teams from across the region. BVIEC is one of the teams.”

He, however, has not disclosed the number of BVIEC employees who will make up this team. 

The CARILEC Secretariat is also coordinating with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) and other regional partners to coordinate transportation and logistical support for the post-disaster restoration effort. 

“Together, we will recover. Together, we remain resilient,” CARLIEC’s statement said. 

Jamaica has the all clear for restoration efforts

According to reports from the Jamaica Information Service, the all clear was given by the government of Jamaica for utility service providers to begin restoration efforts islandwide.

“When we give an all clear, it means that our utility companies should now commence restoration and recovery operations across the island. So, crews from the Jamaica Public Service (JPS), National Water Commission (NWC), National Works Agency (NWA), and also our telecommunications companies and other critical service entities have now and will be advised to mobilise immediately to restore electricity, water, and communication networks,” Jamaica's Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, said during a press conference on October 29, 2025. 

33 Responses to “BVIEC to join CARLIEC’s restoration efforts in Jamaica”

  • Horrorifer (30/10/2025, 15:01) Like (5) Dislike (85) Reply
    You can't keep you own house lit, but you goin try lit another man own. Tiz ting you wa be in. Skunts.
    • Indifference (30/10/2025, 15:57) Like (29) Dislike (0) Reply
      We are to be our brothers' keepers.
    • @Horrifier (30/10/2025, 16:10) Like (41) Dislike (1) Reply
      I am horrified by your statement. You forgot after Irma that we also got assistance from the region.
    • Virgin Islander (30/10/2025, 17:03) Like (27) Dislike (0) Reply
      Embarassing comment from you.
    • @Horrorifer (30/10/2025, 17:56) Like (20) Dislike (0) Reply
      You are one evil, wicked bad minded person. How can you even bring yourself to say something like that. Today for me tomorrow for you. Karma is going to strike your backside. Shame on you.
    • VIslander (30/10/2025, 18:46) Like (23) Dislike (2) Reply
      When you dont know what to say...say nothing. The Jamaican people need help, and we have the capability to offer such, so let us continue to pray and support.
    • Karnage (31/10/2025, 07:57) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
      Stop spreading your idiocy on the internet
    • one eye rooster (31/10/2025, 09:25) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      (Horrogier)YOU GOT TO AND IDIOT OR A BOTTOM SNIFFER
    • @Horrorifer (31/10/2025, 10:09) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      Your comment needs to be taken outside and shot.
  • one eye rooster (30/10/2025, 15:15) Like (39) Dislike (0) Reply
    ONE CARRIBBEAN WORKING.AS ONE.
  • Chris P Bacon (30/10/2025, 15:19) Like (19) Dislike (1) Reply
    Bravo BVIEC, what a great show of support. Jah knows we all needed that help after Irma and I for one, won't ever forgot those amazing workers from Belize that were crucial in reconnecting us after six months without power. All the best!
  • well done (30/10/2025, 15:31) Like (17) Dislike (0) Reply
    That's the way to go! Our lineman can assist them and I am sure they will get benefits from working with some other teams that will be there!
  • WOW (30/10/2025, 15:34) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    They control system is doing it's job. The haarp machine at it's best
  • Upgrades (30/10/2025, 16:21) Like (12) Dislike (1) Reply
    When I will Caribbean countries upgrade and start running lines underground since we are all proned to tropical disasters. Make it make sense

    Big 2025 and we still got wires hanging over we head like we a 3rd world country or wait maybe we are but with 2nd world and 1st world budget
    • @ Upgrades (31/10/2025, 09:28) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      Easy to say put infrastructure underground but hard to pay for as much as it may make sense.
  • BuzzBvi (30/10/2025, 16:28) Like (19) Dislike (2) Reply
    Good for them. Remember all the amazing help we got after Irma from the UK and the Electricity workers that came from different places. Remember especially how amazing the Puerto Rican people were until they also got so badly hit by Maria.

    I know Natalio can never think of a positive thing the UK has done because it gets in the way of his Independence narrative but the UK already have help available for Jamaica as they did for the VI after Irma.

    So pleased to see the BVIEC helping out in this way. If it means a few more power cuts in the VI for a few weeks or months that will be a price worth paying to help out with the catastrophe in Jamaica.

    Well done.
  • @ Horrorifer (30/10/2025, 18:24) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    Wow every time I think our mentality has gone as low as it gets someone proves me wrong. This is so low you would have to reach up to touch bottom. We need to make a million dollar donation to the recovery effort and suspend taxes on remittances to Jamaica via Western Union and Money Gram for at lease six months this is what being your brother's keeper is all about.
  • vi (30/10/2025, 19:10) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Don't mind all the divisive people on social media. The Caribbean is one people, and when things like these happen, we always help each other to get back on our feet. I know that churches and other organizations will help Jamaica, too.
  • Keep Calm (30/10/2025, 19:25) Like (19) Dislike (1) Reply
    To whom it may concern when the British VIRGIN ISLANDS got destroyed from irma lots of Jamaican came and helped restore this teritory
  • live (30/10/2025, 20:09) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    Jamaicain help alot aftermath of Irma. Si the Bvi should assist them
  • It's a good idea (30/10/2025, 20:31) Like (0) Dislike (15) Reply
    They will learn how you really do the job properly , we all know these some of jokers don't know what the heck they are doing or too lacadisical
    • @ it’s a good idea (31/10/2025, 17:06) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      You and the first commenter should be put in the same barrel.

      Go Team BVI, you work extremely hard and are properly trained in your field with live line workers on your team. Keep up the good work and go and do your thing to help Jamaica. I applaud you all.


      Thanks to CARILEC teams, including Jamaicans , who came to our rescue in 2017.
  • guy hill (30/10/2025, 22:14) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    Be careful out there team VI. The gesture will come back to you 200 fold. Be Brave.
  • tola (31/10/2025, 00:42) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    That's good helping out cause alot of forget alot caribbean people came in and help. Big up BVIEC
  • pat (31/10/2025, 02:37) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    This effort is important because we live on an island and one day this could be us yet again like in 2017
  • Short Memories (31/10/2025, 05:15) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    We got help from Jamaican lines men and other countries after Irma too. Seems like some people already forgot. Or, maybe they just didn’t know. Let’s quit being stupid.
    • Vi massive (31/10/2025, 16:54) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      Lord, please don’t blame the whole of Tola for one person’s ignorant and evil behavior. BVIEC is a part of CARILEC and this is what they do. We are our Brother’s keeper. Look at all the overwhelming positive comments, so don’t say that some forgot. That is so small, not sure you can even refer to them as the minority. Just some wicked clowns they are.
  • CARILC (31/10/2025, 08:01) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Just a little reminder to all who against sending out lines men to JA.. All the Caribbean islands are part of a pack that they sign yrs ago where knowledge are share on a continuous basis. It’s also includes if one power company is affected by natural disasters CARILC article kicks in and help is send to that utility. So with that said, Jamaica will get a lot of help ones resources is there to fix the infrastructure electricity wise. They came here to help us 2017. So it’s our turn to help as well..
  • islander (31/10/2025, 09:05) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    Neil Smith is doing a great Job at BVIEC . Keep up the good work.
  • Hazel Roberts (31/10/2025, 23:07) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    Cool those guys won't be doing any live line work, the different set a line voltage on their feeders is outside the training that these guys received, the BVIEC presently use class 2 rubber gloves, in Jamaica you will be heading to class 3&4 gloves work which is completely different, and stick work which is not part of the BVIEC training, and the feeders been worked on to request a hotline hold is a lot of internal information, these guys will be working on down poles and lines. One time in Freeport grand Bahamas I had a chance to work on Frontline, where we were working live line, and it was because I volunteered to do so the very first day I met the crew out in the field, or else I would have been working down poles and lines. Energizing feeders in those countries with voltage regulator and other devices is different, when to zero the regulator and all a that will be conducted by the JPS linesman, their system is way advance than the BVIEC, it comes with landmass and customer volume.
    • @Hazal Robert’s (01/11/2025, 13:01) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Man as a person who say they work for a power company you should be a shame of your self to be here chatting what people don’t understand but you.. what ever training BVIEC lines men did. When they going to JA to help out..they going to use that training to BUILD BACK the system. Meaning dead lines. So basically they going be in the front and not the back where is don't have the live lines. You should know as you say your was a form worker here at BVIEC at on point.. you should know better. You fully well know they going to be working with a team and a qualified supervisor From JPL
  • Thank you BVIEC (01/11/2025, 09:28) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    No one said that they will be WORKING on live line in Jamaica. No need to measure their capabilities either. Training is a continuous process and should never stop. Everybody is at different stages in their lives for various reasons and so it is with their training, but progress is being made. So no need for anyone to compare training either. They are trained for what they are required to do. They do what they have to with the limitations they might have, but they are ours and we love and appreciate their work and I am sure they will be able of value to the rest of their Carilec counterparts in restoring power to Jamaica. The most important thing is that they are going to contribute and we are happy for that.


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