Australia is willing to assist Barbados in its thrust towards embracing renewable energy.
High Commissioner of Australia, William Tysoe, indicated this last week as he paid a courtesy call on Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Maxine McClean, at her Culloden Road office.
Acknowledging that he wanted to see more Fellowships awarded to persons from the Caribbean, Mr. Tysoe said Australian universities were enthusiastic about having students from other nations study there.
He added that the Fellowship programme in Australia provided opportunities for technical experts and government officials in areas such as minerals, agriculture and fisheries and Barbados was welcome to consider solar energy.
???It is very targetted and designed around the needs of the [specific] country??? There could be some collaboration in terms of our cane research endeavour,??? the envoy said, adding that Australia had a significant cane industry and was a world leader in solar energy research, which could be of interest to Barbados.
Minister McClean, in expressing appreciation for the interest, said alternative energy provided opportunities to significantly reduce the country???s high energy bill and to save on foreign exchange used to purchase energy.
???There may be opportunities for collaboration because there is growing interest, critical to us making [a] success in the area of renewable energy,??? she said, noting the interest expressed by Barbadians in solar energy for cooling green houses and Barbados??? efforts at resuscitating the sugar cane industry to produce biofuel, as areas of importance.
Barbados and Australia established diplomatic relations on January 7, 1974.
joy-ann.gill@barbados.gov.bb