The Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) is continuing the process of restoring electricity to several parts of the island that are still without power three days after Hurricane Dean passed to the south.

In a release issued yesterday, the power company said its network in Clarendon, Manchester, St. Catherine, St. Elizabeth, St Thomas and Portland was extensively damaged and would require more work to restore service in those parishes.

The JPS said light restoration in these areas has been slower than in other parishes because of significant damage to its system in those parishes. "The assessment has indicated that the damage to the company's transmission system in these areas is far greater than that caused by Hurricane Ivan in 2004," the release said.

While they continue to work on bringing back power to those areas, the company is reporting that restoration in other parishes has been normal. It also said that throughout yesterday they would be focusing on restoring power to more areas in Kingston & St. Andrew, St. James, Trelawny, Hanover, Westmoreland, and St. Ann, where there was far less damage to its power infrastructure.

The company said it would continue to put all available resources on restoring power island-wide and will continue its assessment of its power network.

Since the company started restoring power on Monday night essential areas such as hospitals have been regaining power steadily across the island. In addition, a number of communities in St. James and the Corporate Area have received power.

The JPS also said it is trying to restore power to most customers by the end of the week.