Five linemen from Caribbean Utilities Company, Ltd. (CUC) are currently in Bermuda providing assistance to the Bermuda Electric Light Company (BELCO), following the aftermath of Hurricane Gonzalo, which affected that island on Friday, October 17, 2014.

The Category 2 hurricane tore through Bermuda downing trees and power lines and damaging a number of buildings. Hurricane Gonzalo made landfall along the south-central coast of the island with maximum sustained winds reaching 110 miles-per-hour.

On Thursday, October 23, Superintendent Transmission & Distribution Operations Gary Whittaker along with Linemen Damian Barboram, Chris Welcome, Smarnell Thomas and Rapheal Lin departed Grand Cayman enroute to Bermuda to assist with the restoration process as part of the Caribbean Electric Utility Service Corporation (CARILEC) contingent.

CUC has been a Full Member of CARILEC since 1994 and contributes to theCARILEC 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 strikes. CUC has previously assisted CARILEC with hurricane restoration efforts in Anguilla, the Bahamas, Belize and Bermuda.

Commenting on CUC’s participation with the relief efforts, President and CEO Mr. Richard Hew stated, “ I am pleased that CUC is able to lend this level of support to the people of Bermuda 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 once again lend assistance to our brothers and sisters in Bermuda. Our linemen are up to the tasks 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 to assist with the restoration of electricity.”

IMAGE: CUC’s Superintendent T&D Operations Gary Whittaker (third from right) with Linemen (from left) Chris Welcome, Raphael Lin, Damian Barboram and Smarnell Thomas prior to their departure for Bermuda to assist with relief efforts. To see off the crew was Line Supervisor Albert McLean (right).