Sept 11th, 2003

CUC LINEMEN TO ASSIST BERMUDA FOLLOWING PASSING OF HURRICANE FABIAN

Seven CUC Linemen and one Transmission & Distribution (T&D) Engineer left the Island today, Wednesday, 10th September, to travel to Bermuda to assist the Island’s electricity provider, Bermuda Electric Light Company (BELCO), with the restoration of electrical service. Approximately 25% of BELCO customers are still without power following last weekend’s passing of Hurricane Fabian, with sustained winds of over 150 mph, the worst storm to affect the Island in the five decades.

All but one of the CUC crew will remain in Bermuda for two weeks. Thirty-three representatives from electric utilities in Jamaica, Belize, Barbados, the Bahamas and Dominica joined CUC’s crew. This effort is being spearheaded by the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation’s (CARILEC) Hurricane Action Plan, which provides for the assembly, dispatch and coordination of emergency teams of linemen to assist in the restoration of T&D systems after a hurricane strike.

CARILEC, with the assistance of CUC, organised a Cayman Airways charter flight to take the men on the 3½-hour trip Bermuda. The crews from the other five islands traveled to Jamaica and connected with a Cayman Airways flight to Grand Cayman. The 41-man crew from the six Caribbean countries, who departed Grand Cayman at noon today, were excited about the opportunity to lend their support to fellow utility workers who will be carrying out extensive repairs to Bermuda’s distribution system.

According to reports from Bermuda’s power company, 400 utility poles were downed and extensive damage to the Company’s distribution system and approximately 25% of their customers are still without power. The Company expects to complete the restoration process within two to three weeks.

CUC’s crew comprises Stanton Sheogobind, Supervisor T&D Engineering & Operations, and seven members of the Company’s line department, Gary Whittaker, Supervisor Line Maintenance who will serve as Team Leader for the rest of his crew, which includes Albert McLean, Michael Whittaker, Lloyd Douglas, Jessie Bodden, Alfred Berry and Michael Powell.

Ron Parchment, Manager Materials/Facilitator of CUC’s Emergency Preparedness Team, who coordinated the preparation of the Company’s contingent and worked closely with Cayman Airways, remarked, “CUC is pleased to be in a position to offer assistance to a fellow utility in their time of need. We realize that the Cayman Islands could suffer a similar fate and it is reassuring to know that we can rely on the assistance of our neighbours in the Caribbean region.

This is the fourth time that CUC was called upon to assist in the restoration efforts in other Islands. In September 1995 four linemen traveled to Anguilla to assist following the passing of Hurricane Marilyn. Four years later in October 1999, seven linemen spent two weeks in Nassau, Bahamas following a strike by Hurricane Floyd. Two years later in October 2001, seven linemen also traveled to Belize to assist following the passing of Hurricane Iris. CUC also provided assistance by way of sending portable generators and other supplies, including foodstuff and clothing donated by employees, to the stricken residents of Honduras following the passing of Hurricane Mitch in 1998, which caused significant loss of life and devastation in that neighbouring country.

CUC thanks Cayman Airways personnel for their assistance in coordinating the charter flight for CARILEC and for ensuring a smooth connection process for the in-transit crews from the other utility companies.