Many businesses in Ships Wharf St. David's are without power ? one week after the Belco blaze caused their operations to grind to a halt. They say they have suffered major loss of revenue and productivity.

The businesses include Salt Whistle Marine, Southside Carpentry, Amber Fisheries, KC Plumbing and VIP Auto Marine, and Finishing Touch.

Salt Whistle Marine owner Andrew Sampson described the situation as "unacceptable".

"I can't do any work on the boats. Belco said they were coming on Friday but I have not seen any Belco trucks. While other businesses are prepared to wait patiently I would like Belco to be the service provider they are meant to be," he said.

Mr. Sampson said most businesses in Ships Wharf had been without power, except those lucky enough to have generators.

The businesses include welding, boat repair, auto motive repair, sea food imports and carpentry.

Belco Communications Officer Susan McGrath-Smith said the loss of power in Ships Wharf was a result of the fire and last Wednesday crews went out to St. David's and restored power to residential customers.

"An isolated portion of the circuit remains out and there are no residents on the circuit, just businesses, and we have been providing generators. SERCO provided a generator free of charge to Amber Fisheries, as freezers are obviously critical to them," Ms McGrath-Smith said.

She explained that there was a cable fault in the Ships Wharf area that needed to be repaired and crews were sent out yesterday to work on the cable but it was not a straight forward task to fix it. "This is a difficult job because it involves eight or nine manholes, each with a T joint where cables intersect. To locate and fix the fault, they have to go in and take the cable apart, then test each piece and the re-join the cable," Ms McGrath-Smith said.

She added: "This is very time consuming and could take the entire weekend or longer. We will not know until they get into work."

Finishing Touch owner Ruben Almeida said the blackout had resulted in significant loss of revenues and productivity.

?Without computers, lights, or computers, and no generator there is very little we can do. I have staff I employ with no work to do. Belco said they were coming on Thursday and we may not have power until Wednesday,? Mr. Almeida said.

Southside Carpentry owner Daniel Pereira said he contacted Belco CEO Garry Madeiros, who promised to look into the problem.

?To say that we are upset is an understatement. If Belco know what the problem is, they should be able to fix it,? Mr. Pereira said.

KC Plumbing and VIP Automarine owner Keith Richardson said although he had generators the company had to work with temporary lights and minimal electricity. Essential equipment and machinery could not be used.

?Although we can continue to work in some capacity, I know of other businesses in this area which have shut down completely,? Mr. Richardson said.

Amber Fisheries owner James Anthony said: ?Everybody I spoke to at Belco has bent over backward to help me but sometimes it feels we are getting the short end of the stick.?

Mr. Anthony said while he appreciated Belco was doing everything to restore power it was unacceptable that businesses in St. David?s should have been neglected for so long.