Input from players in the Energy Sector key

Government is not taking a cloak and dagger approach to developing its National Energy Policy.

Rather, Permanent Secretary of the Division of Energy and Telecommunications, Jehu Wiltshire stressed that the input of individuals involved in the energy sector is critical to the development of this policy. He told the gathering at a recent Town Hall Meeting at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, it was for this reason that the event, and those to come, are being staged.

“This document has not yet been submitted to Cabinet. It has not yet been endorsed by cabinet and that is for a very good reason. We wish to involve you the stakeholders as early as possible in this process to get your feedback because the idea is… based on that feedback we are going to then craft a draft policy which we will then present at another Town Hall Meeting similar to this and on the basis of that then we will go to cabinet. So it isn’t a situation in which the Division of Energy will draft a document, submit it to cabinet and present it to you the public. We want you involved as early as possible and we value your feedback,” he stated.

The topic discussed at the Meeting was the ‘Interim Draft National Energy Policy’, while speaking about the document, Wiltshire said it was “a fair reflection of what we wish to see for a modernised energy sector in Barbados”.

He reminded the gathering that “it is not a renewable energy policy, it is not a renewable energy and efficiency policy. [Rather,] it is a policy that is intended to embrace all elements of the energy sector – petroleum energy, renewable energy [and] energy efficiency”.

“Energy as you know crosscuts various sectors of the economy, in fact, it underpins, it is the very life blood of an economy. So this policy crosscuts various sectors – energy and agriculture, energy trade and services, energy and the environment and it is intended to be a holistic document that really focuses on how we wish to see the energy sector modernise as we seek to ensure sustainable development in the island,” he further noted.

Individuals involved in the energy sector will be able to comment and give input on the Interim Draft National Energy Policy over the next two weeks. (MG)

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