Minister of Energy – Dr. Earl Asim Martin
Photo By Erasmus Williams
Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
October 18, 2010 (CUOPM)
A three-man delegation has returned to the Federation after attending the Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum (CREF) at the Atlantis Hotel, Paradise Island, The Bahamas.
St. Kitts and Nevis’ Minister of Energy, Dr. the Hon. Earl Asim Martin, Nevis Minister responsible for Energy, the Hon. Carlise Powell and Ministry official, Mr. Ernie Stapleton were among over 300 representatives from governments, utilities, development banks, NGOs, academia and civil society from throughout the Caribbean region.
The forum provided the opportunity for numerous discussions on strategies to advance the development and use of renewable energy and energy efficiency throughout the region.
On October 13, the Government of The Bahamas in collaboration with the Organisation of American States (OAS) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) co-hosted a preparatory stakeholder workshop to discuss the National Energy Policy for The Bahamas.
This was followed by the Caribbean Sustainable Energy Roundtable with high level government officials to discuss opportunities for the U.S.-Caribbean energy cooperation under the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas (ECPA), including activities to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency, and Caribbean electricity integration.
The CREF sessions touched on numerous regional programs including the ECPA Sustainable Energy for the Caribbean Program through which the OAS will assist countries in meeting critical clean energy challenges while facilitating greater integration throughout the region; the Caribbean Sustainable Energy Programme (CSEP) an initiative that contributes to the development of national energy policies and implementation measures in OECS countries and The Bahamas; and the US-Brazil Biofuels Partnership which makes available technical and policy assistance for the development and use of sustainable biofuels for the Dominican Republic, Haiti, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Jamaica.
The CREF Conference has facilitated an essential dialogue among the key energy stakeholders including governments, utilities, development banks, NGOs, academia, civil society and private sector from the Caribbean. Mr. Mark Lambrides, Chief from the Energy and Climate Change Mitigation Section of the Department of Sustainable Development stated that “the region is poised to dramatically transform the energy sector toward one of sustainability with renewable energy and energy efficiency.