Best gives overview of CDB projects
THE Caribbean Development Bank has pushed various projects in 2019 and will have a hand in further initiatives such as renewable energy projects, education-based initiatives and possibly, production of medical marijuana.
Speaking at the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) Annual News Conference, Dr. Daniel Best, Director of Projects, gave an overview of the projects, which the bank assisted with in 2019, but also gave an idea of what was in the works for 2020. One of those projects was LED lighting for some territories.
“Our thrust towards enhancing energy security continued through our programme to retrofit streetlights with LEDs. At the end of 2019, the CDB had invested almost US$100 million to finance installation of more than 200,000 LED streetlights across Antigua and Barbuda, Jamaica, The Bahamas, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and St. Kitts and Nevis.”
This translates to 86,000 tonnes of CO emissions savings, more than 85,000 kwh of energy savings and in excess of US$26 million in savings annually. The bank identified the pools of renewable energy sources in the borrowing member states and has partnered with the Inter-American Development Bank to provide a facility for renewable energy projects. Included is research into geothermal energy as well as photovoltaic systems (PVs).
The possible large-scale production of medical marijuana was also raised and Dr. William Warren Smith, President of CDB, explained that in his personal view, there was much to be gained from pursuing the venture. With Jamaica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines already having marijuana legitimised and Barbados on that path, Smith said that he believed the trend would continue to replicate, not only across this region but across the world.
“Any way we can find avenues to diversify our productive base, especially our export base, I think is a good one. Now the Caribbean is well recognised for the quality of our marijuana and I believe it is a legitimate industry to pursue as long as it remains within the law.
“My concern is that the legitimisation of this product should not put our countries in a situation where that new area of production becomes dominated by foreign interests and all people, especially small people, do not benefit from this industry.”
Regarding education in 2019, the mission of the CDB was to increase access to inclusive and quality education for all, which included the construction of four schools in rural Haiti, providing 32 classrooms for a combined capacity of 1,280 students. The schools also serve as community centres, catering to a combined population of approximately 250,000.
The bank also funded training for 438 teachers in Special Education Needs (SEN) in Saint Lucia, while 169 teachers were trained at the Autism Conference and Summer Camp. In St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), there was an enhancement of the employability of 94 persons through the award of Caribbean Vocational Qualifications certification, which also improved institutional frameworks for technical institutes in SVG to enrol and support persons with disabilities. (AS)