October 17, 2001
CUC Linemen to assist Belize Electricity after passing of Iris

Seven members of CUC's Line Department departed today (Wednesday, 17th October) to assist Belize Electricity with the restoration of power to approximately 2,600 customers following the passing of Hurricane Iris on Monday, 8th October. It is expected that the linemen will be deployed for approximately two weeks but their stay could be extended if necessary.

CUC's assistance was offered in conjunction with the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation' (CARILEC) Hurricane Action Plan (CHAP), which provides for the assembly, dispatch and coordination of emergency teams of linemen on loan from member utilities to assist in the restoration of transmission and distribution systems after a hurricane strike. Founded in 1988 CARILEC is a regional association of Caribbean electric utility companies and currently boasts 30 full members (public utilities) and 44 associate members (suppliers of goods and services to the power industry). CUC has been a member since 1992 and two of its directors currently serve on the board of directors of the association.

This is the third such time that CUC has assisted fellow utilities in the region, the most recent being in Nassau in October 1999 when the Company sent seven linemen to assist following the passing of Hurricane Floyd. The Company also sent four linemen to Anguilla in September 1995 to assist with the restoration efforts following the aftermath of Hurricane Marilyn, which caused severe damage on that Island. Although Honduras is not a member of CARILEC, CUC also sent portable generators and other supplies as well as shipments of clothing and food donated by its employees, following the passing of Hurricane Mitch in 1998 which caused significant loss of life and devastation in that neighboring country.

Mr. Gary Whittaker, CUC's Supervisor of Line Maintenance will head up the team of Lloyd Douglas, Kenzel Dixon, Albert McLean, Ronald Minzett, Patrick Myrie and Gary Anthony Ebanks. Mr. Douglas and Mr. Dixon have already garnered hurricane relief expertise having assisted with the Company's relief efforts in Anguilla and Nassau. Mr. McLean also assisted in Nassau. The experience of these three individuals will be beneficial to the rest of the team who will be seeing the effects of a major storm for the first time.

Mr. Ron Parchment, Manager Materials Management and Facilitator of CUC's Emergency Preparedness Team, said that he was pleased to know that CUC is in a position to offer assistance to a fellow utility in the region in their time of need. "We realize that the Cayman Islands could have suffered severe devastation from Hurricane Iris also and we are happy to know that we can help Belize to restore service to its customers. We too, someday, could need their assistance."

It is understood that the greatest amount of damage occurred in the southern Belize coast including the villages of Monkey River, Placencia, Independence and the port of Big Creek. The storm also impacted several rural villages in the interior of the Toledo district. Approximately 8,000 people were left homeless as a result of the category four storm.

According to Mr. Lynn Young, President and Chief Executive Officer of Belize Electricity, "Our preliminary estimate is that approximately 25% of our distribution system was damaged. Our number one priority is to restore power to customers as quickly as possible. The assistance that will be provided by the crew from Caribbean Utilities will be invaluable in repairing the system. They will be assisting with the re-installation of 12 miles of transmission and distribution line in the village of Placencia." Mr. Young said that it would be several weeks before the total damage sustained by his Company is known.

Belize Electricity is a majority-owned subsidiary of Fortis Inc., a diversified electric utility holding company based in Newfoundland, Canada, which acquired a 20% interest in CUC in March 2000. Fortis Inc. recently donated BZ$50,000.00 to the Belize Red Cross to assist that Agency with its relief efforts in the southern rural areas for food, shelter and other emergency relief supplies.

If you have any queries, kindly contact:

Caren Thompson Phone: (345) 914-1107 / 916 3933
Corporate Communications E-Mail: cthompson@cuc.com.ky

Go to member news page · Go to CUC web site

CARILEC news · Features