“We believe fundamentally that the issues of energy efficiency affect us all. This is not something that only affects policymakers.” These were the statements of Executive Director of Caribbean Policy Development Centre (CPDC), Mrs. Shantal Munroe-Knight, who spoke at the opening of the CPDC and the Caribbean Consultative Working Group (CCWG)’s national policy dialogue on energy efficiency, energy conservation and sustainable energy.
The National Policy Dialogue was held on Tuesday, 14th June at the National Insurance Services Conference Room. Several representatives from the public sector and civil society groups were present at the dialogue. Representing the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines at the dialogue were Co-ordinator of the local Promoting Access to Clean Energy Services (PACES) project, Dr. Alston Stoddard; and Director of the Energy Unit, Mr. Ellsworth Dacon. The Hon. Daniel E. Cummings, Member of Parliament for West Kingstown and the New Democratic Party’s shadow Minister of Transport & Works, Energy, Water and Housing, was also present.
To set the logistical framework for a successful policy dialogue, the CPDC-CCWG collaborated with local non-government organisations, Constructive Solutions Inc. and the Windward Islands Farmers Association (WINFA), through its local Co-ordinator, Mrs. Kozel Peters-Fraser.
Chief Executive Officer of Constructive Solutions Inc., Dr. Ashley John, stated that the hosting of the national policy dialogue on energy efficiency, energy conservation and sustainable energy with civil society groups should be applauded. According to Dr. John, the dialogue was a progressive and productive initiative. He told participants that they not only represent civil societies but also represent “our very households”.
While she outlined the main objectives of the national policy dialogue on energy efficiency, energy conservation and sustainable energy, Mrs. Munroe-Knight, told participants that the CPDC is interested in their views and that the discussions and recommendations from the dialogue will be drafted into a policy paper. She added that the policy paper will then be submitted into the regional process, one of which is the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED), an arm of CARICOM.
Miss Niebert Blair, Project Officer for Energy, represented CARICOM at the St. Vincent and the Grenadines national policy dialogue on energy efficiency, energy conservation and sustainable energy. she said that the national policy dialogue is an initiative in which the Energy Unit in the CARICOM Secretariat is very much interested. Blair further stated that they wished to continue to work with the CPDC in this regard.
Civil society participants heard presentations on CARICOM’s energy efficiency and energy conservation initiatives, and the national initiatives related to sustainable energy, energy efficiency and conservation. At the end of the dialogue, participants shared reflections and recommendations from their enhanced understanding on sustainable energy.
Source: API