Senior linesmen of Little Cayman hang up their hard hats

For more than a quarter century, Island Energy linesmen Waid Moore Bush and Philburn Ayton have worked tirelessly together through sunshine and storms to keep the lights on in Little Cayman.

Now, both men, together with power generation operator Robert Truchan, will be calling it a day this month after a combined total of 68 years of service to the island.

“ I think we’ve got the most important job on the island because without electricity, everything else grinds to a halt,” Truchan said as he reflected on his 15-year career on Little Cayman.

Moore Bush, 69, and Ayton, 71, shared the sentiment as they too recounted the significance of their roles as linesmen and the community’s reliance on them to keep the electricity flowing.

Commitment to community

Ayton said the employees pride themselves on their speed in restoring power when there is an interruption. Given the size of the island, he said the team responds to calls within half an hour to restore power to residents.

“ The first time we have major problem here was in Paloma,” Ayton said.

Following Hurricane Paloma in 2008, he said, most of the electric lines were broken. The process of getting power back across the island took about two to three months to complete.

However, Ayton, who is retiring after 26 years of dedication as an Island Energy mechanic and linesman, said the team was committed to restoring power for residents.

Truchan, 72, Island Energy Little Cayman’s  assistant chief engineer, who is originally from Canada and who has lived in the Cayman Islands for 30 years, said, “Any job I’ve ever done is to serve and do the job for the best of my ability. We’ve got a good crew and it just kept us going for 16 years at the power plant. We’re here to make power and I’m here to help it happen.”

He recalled when he first moved to Little Cayman 25 years ago and instantly fell in love.

Back then, he said, there was roughly the same number of residents but far less development.

“ It was far cheaper to live. Gas was maybe $2.50 a gallon. Store prices were a lot less. We were fortunate in 2003 to get our status and buy a house and that made our life a lot easier,” he said.

Looking back, he said, without a doubt, he would do it again.

“I have no regrets, none at all. It’s paradise here. Every day I feel blessed to be on the island. If the opportunity presented itself again, I’d jump at it,” Truchan said.

Ayton agreed, as he left his homeland Jamaica to come to the Cayman Islands as a mechanic.

He said the opportunity he been given and the impact he has had on the community makes him feel “honourable”.

Like Truchan, Ayton has seen many changes on Little Cayman, having lived there for decades.

He recounted life on the island before street lights.

“If you had a medevac coming in, everybody had to park their vehicle on the street, shine their light on the airport strip so that a plane could land to pick up a passenger and go back,” Ayton recalled.

Moore Bush, who is retiring after 27 years of dedicated service as Island Energy’s assistant line supervisor in Little Cayman, recalled the early challenges when the team would have to plant power lines in the absence of modern technology.

“We had to dig holes with our hands … when the truck went on, we just have to keep digging the hole and putting the pole down. It wasn’t no way else out [here],” he explained.

Though he is hanging up his hat, Moore Bush said he is leaving with a satisfied feeling.

“It’s nice to be part of the island and keep everybody happy. Keep everything going. Anytime they call us, we’re there 24/7. I enjoy it; I enjoy doing my job. I do it good too,” Moore Bush said, smiling.

Dangerous duty

Working with electricity is always risky and any mistake can mean the difference between life and death for workers in the industry.

Ayton knows that all too well, having suffered serious injury after coming in contact with live electric wires previously.

The seasoned mechanic recounted his experience of suffering electric shock, saying that he knew he was lucky to be alive.

“I was joining two neutral wires, but it was too close to the high voltage [line]. I used a long tool like a scissors to crimp the fittings onto the wire and I didn’t realise that I was so close to the high voltage, [even though] I disconnected the switch, but it happened,” he said.

Ayton said the electricity entered through his arm and exited his stomach – and he has the scars to show it.

“I slumped into the bucket and then about five minutes after that, I [was] able to stand up, operate the bucket and come down,” he said, recognising how fortunate he was to recover.

“There’s a Father up above,” he said.

Ayton said he would not switch jobs even after that experience. His colleagues shared the same feelings, saying that they were happy to have worked in the field.

Moore Bush added that the best part of the job was always “the pay cheque” and the friendships they formed.

The men say they are all looking forward to their retirement and plan to enjoy the paradise that is Little Cayman.

Moore Bush has already worked out his retirement plan:  ”Get a little more rest, [less] stress, fishin’ and drink beer. That’s the plan.”

The men encouraged young Caymanians to consider learning a trade as it helped set them on their career path.

“ Study hard and be honest and take care of your job when you get it,” Moore Bush advised.