CUC line crews in Turks & Caicos

(CNS): Caribbean Utilities Company, Ltd (CUC) is providing assistance to the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands, following the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, which devastated Grand Turk and damaged portions of Providenciales, Middle Caicos and South Caicos.Six of the Company’s linemen are currently on the ground in the islands helping to restore power, a CUC release said.

On Monday, September 15, Linemen Albert McLean, Ronald Minzett and Damian Barboram departed Grand Cayman enroute to Providenciales to assist with efforts on the islands of Providenciales, Middle Caicos and South Caicos. On Tuesday, September 16, Linemen Michael Powell, Christopher Ebanks and Andrew Wood travelled to Grand Turk as part of the CARILEC (Caribbean Electric Utility Service Corporation) contingent assisting with restoration efforts.

CUC has been a Full Member of CARILEC since 1994 and as such, contributes to the CARILEC Hurricane Action Plan, which provides for the assembly, dispatch and coordination of emergency teams of linesmen on loan from member utilities to assist in the restoration of transmission and distribution systems after a hurricane strike. CUC has previously assisted CARILEC with hurricane restoration efforts in Anguilla, the Bahamas, Belize and Bermuda.

Commenting on the task ahead, Lineman Foreman and Team Leader Albert McLean, who has assisted with three previous restoration efforts, added, “Based on our previous experiences with relief efforts, we have come to expect the worst in terms of damage. We have seen first-hand the kind of damage a storm such as Hurricane Ike can inflict on communities. We will take it day-by-day, do our jobs as effectively, efficiently and safely as possible and help our neighbours get back on their feet as quickly as possible.”

On hand to wish the two groups well on their travels were Richard Hew, CUC’s President and CEO, and Gary Whittaker, Manager Line Operations.

Hew stated, “ I am pleased that CUC is able to lend this level of support to the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands at this critical time. In the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan we received much needed assistance from teams from around the Caribbean and North America so we are happy that we can now lend assistance to our brothers and sisters in the Turks and Caicos. Our linemen are up to the task at hand and I know they will do the Company proud. I look forward to their safe return to Grand Cayman once they have accomplished their mission, which is the restoration of electricity.”

Photo top: Pictured with Gary Whittaker, CUC’s Manager Line Operations (left) and Richard Hew, President & CEO (right) are Linemen Albert McLean, Damian Barboram and Ronald Minzett, who travelled to Providenciales to assist with restoration efforts.

Photo 2: Pictured with Richard Hew, CUC’s President & CEO (left), and Gary Whittaker, Manager Line Operations (right) are Linemen Michael Powell, Andrew Wood and Christopher Ebanks, who travelled to Grand Turk to assist with restoration efforts.