About 90 workers from New Brunswick are currently in Jamaica assisting in the restoration of the country’s electrical system, which was severely damaged by Hurricane Melissa on October 28. Louis Leger, a member of the leadership team at Greystone Group based in Grand Falls, emphasized the team’s expertise in storm response and power restoration, empathizing with the locals who have been without electricity for nearly three months.
Greystone Group, known for its work on electrical distribution and transmission systems across North America, mobilized approximately 180 workers, half of whom are from New Brunswick, to Jamaica. An additional 150 pieces of heavy equipment are en route to Montego Bay to aid in the rebuilding efforts.
Leger highlighted the urgency of receiving the equipment, as the current manual work is slower and less efficient. He described the extent of the devastation in Jamaica, comparing it to a scenario where major regions of New Brunswick, from Sackville to Port Elgin, Moncton, Albert County, Kent County, and most of the Miramichi, would need to be reconstructed from scratch simultaneously.
Responding to storm emergencies requires swift action and preparedness, akin to fire departments and other emergency responders, according to Leger. Skilled workers play a crucial role in such operations, as they possess the necessary expertise to handle challenging disaster zones.
Leger shared a recent accomplishment where the team successfully established a micro grid to restore power to a hospital that had been without electricity since the hurricane struck. This achievement not only brings pride to the workers but also highlights the significant impact of their work in aiding the community.