 ?? |
| Minister of Labour and Social Security, Dr. Esther Byer Suckoo, paid close attention to the presentation of Chief Marketing Officer of Barbados Light and Power Company Ltd, Steven Worme at the recent monthly meeting of the Sub-Committee of the Social Partnership. (C. Pitt/BGIS)?? |
Government is seeking to roll out its Renewable Energy Programme and drastically reduce this country’s large fossil fuel bill.
Speaking at the Sub-Committee of the Social Partnership monthly meeting recently, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Senator Darcy Boyce, lamented that approximately half of the oil imported into Barbados was used for electricity generation.
Senator Boyce stressed that Government was concerned about this at a macro and consumer level, adding that they were actively working on rolling out the renewable energy programme".??
In relation to Government’s Energy Policy, the Energy Smart Fund and various options on the table for implementing renewable energy, he explained that there were a number of barriers that blocked energy efficiency but there were many ways to overcome these challenges.?? He said Government was exploring renewable energy options including solar, wind, waste and biomass energy generation.
Senator Boyce remarked that in the past, cane factories used the waste generated on their plantations to make electricity, adding that they (the plantations) even sold the commodity.?? Furthermore, he stated that he knew of some young entrepreneurs on the island who were investigating how to convert waste products from the rum industry and from chicken farms into electricity. He emphasised that waste energy was one of the most viable options and it was also environmentally friendly.??
Speaking on the Energy Smart Fund, Senator Boyce told the Sub-Committee of the Social Partnership that businesses could seek low interest loans if their organisations were implementing energy conservation methods or installing renewable energy systems or devices.??
The Sub-Committee of the Social Partnership is chaired by Minister of Labour and Social Security, Dr. Esther Byer Suckoo.?? She explained that the presentations were in keeping with the Sub-Committee’s focus on taking the togetherness approach to assist with recovering the Barbadian economy.??
The tripartite group meets monthly to examine a range of issues such prices of goods, services and compensation, employment relations matters, the movement of the Retail Price Index in addition to consulting on matters brought to the attention of the body.
The Sub-Committee of the Social Partnership reflects the tripartite arrangement of government, the trade unions and employers of the Social Partnership.