The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority on April 13 announced the safe return of its second restoration crew, which arrived back to the Territory April 12 after spending several weeks in Jamaica supporting recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, one of the strongest ever recorded storms in the Atlantic.
The crew, comprised of linemen and support safety personnel from St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix, joined a broader, international restoration effort to help rebuild critical electrical infrastructure and restore power to communities that had been without service for months.
"WAPA extends its deepest gratitude for the opportunity to assist our Caribbean neighbors during a time of great need. The Authority is equally grateful for the safe return of its team members, whose expertise, resilience, and dedication to service were on full display throughout the mission."
While in Jamaica, WAPA crews worked alongside utility professionals from across the region and around the world, navigating challenging terrain and conditions to bring power back to hundreds of families. The team was met with an outpouring of appreciation from Jamaican residents, many of whom had endured extended outages.
“Serving in Jamaica was a humbling experience for all of us,” said Gerry Simon, Assistant Safety Director of WAPA, who was part of the deployment. “As much as this was an opportunity to give back through our services, it also allowed our teams to exchange knowledge and build camaraderie with the other crews, which strengthens our ability to serve our own communities even better.”
"Moments like these reaffirm the Authority’s role as a public servant, extending care, expertise, and solidarity beyond its shores," the utility said.
The Authority extended sincere appreciation to the restoration crew, including the first and second linemen delegations: Charles E. Isles, Jr., Rey E. Belardo, Jr., Omari H. George, Jonathan J. Gonzalez, Anthoni Gonzalez, Bevron M. Goodwin, Roy Freeland, Juan A. Velez, Jr., Luiscito B. Frederick, Misael Mendoza, Jr., Evanson Matthew, Jr., and Judah B. Alexander.
WAPA thanked the Jamaica Public Service Company Limited (JPS) and people of Jamaica "for their warm hospitality and for the care shown to our crews during their time on the ground. The Authority also recognizes the families of its employees, whose support made this deployment possible."
With hurricane season around the corner, WAPA continues to prioritize training and preparedness, "ensuring our teams are ready to respond and restore the communities we serve across the territory."
