#TurksandCaicos, November 15, 2017 – Providenciales – FortisTCI (the Company) is sending a five-member crew from the Turks and Caicos Islands to assist with the restoration of electricity in Dominica, the Company announced today. It was in mid-September that Hurricane Maria, a destructive category 5 storm, wreaked havoc on the country, destroying infrastructure, demolishing homes and killing more than 25 people.
The request for assistance came to FortisTCI through the Company’s membership with Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC), an association of electric services, and other stakeholders operating in the electricity industry in the Caribbean region, Central and South America and globally. CARILEC is known locally as having assisted the Turks and Caicos Islands back in 2008 following Hurricane Ike, sending 40 utility workers to help rebuild the Transmission & Distribution network on Grand Turk.
FortisTCI President and CEO Eddinton Powell said, “We are thankful to be in this position. We recently completed the restoration of electricity across Turks and Caicos, and we can now extend a helping hand elsewhere in the region. It is important that we support where and when we can. Dominica needs our help right now, and I could not be more proud of the team from FortisTCI that has volunteered to go and help restore electricity to the citizens and residents there. FortisTCI is sending well wishes to everyone, and we know that our colleagues will do a superb job.”
The five FortisTCI employees will depart the TCI for Dominica on Thursday, November 16, 2017, and the mission will be led by DOMLEC, Dominica’s electricity provider. The FortisTCI team will spend three weeks working as a part of the restoration efforts, joining several crews assisting from elsewhere around the Caribbean. The team is comprised of senior journeymen linemen Kavin Ewing and Aneil Lightbourne, a 3rd-year apprentice Jeffery Desir, and the Manager of Environmental Health and Safety Marcus Francis and Gregory Thomas.
Press Release: FortisTCI
Photo Caption:
FortisTCI volunteer crew going to Dominica to assist with electricity restoration is pictured with FortisTCI President & CEO Eddinton Powell and Senior VPs Devon Cox and Ruth Forbes. (L to R) Senior VP of Operations Devon Cox, Senior VP of Corporate Services & CFO Ruth Forbes, Linemen Supervisor Gregory Thomas, Senior Journeymen Linemen Aneil Lightbourne and Kavin Ewing, EHS Manager Marcus Francis, President & CEO Eddinton Powell.
