Connect with us

Caribbean News

Jamaica on track to achieve 30% energy from renewables

Published

on

#Kingston, October 17, 2018 – Jamaica – Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says Jamaica is on track to achieve 30 per cent of its electricity from renewables within two years.  This will surpass the target in the National Energy Policy for renewables to account for no less than 20 per cent of the country’s energy mix by 2030.

“We now have a combined supply of just about 120 megawatts of renewable electricity power, which is currently in our grid and that will put us to about 15 and 18 per cent of electricity generation… so it is quite likely we will achieve the 30 per cent by 2020 if we continue at this pace,” he said.

The Prime Minister was addressing a ceremony to commission solar photovoltaic panels into operation at the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) on October 16.  He noted that with the gains made in renewable energy, the Government is pushing to achieve “a more ambitious target (of) 50 per cent of our electricity generation from renewables by 2030”.

“I think this is doable. There is a certain reality that we have to pay attention to (and that) is climate change… .  We have to be resilient (and) a part of that is what we do with our energy mix. Pushing our energy generation to be 50/50 fossil fuels and renewables is in our national security interest, (and) in our survival interest; we have to embrace renewables,” he said.

The Prime Minister noted that the installation of the solar panels at OPM will result in a reduction in the electricity bill.

The project was led by Solar Head of State, a non-governmental organisation whose goal is to install solar on influential government buildings around in world, and involved collaboration with the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ), National Energy Solutions (NESol), the Clinton Foundation and other partners.

It included a Jamaica Solar Challenge competition, with young Ryan Bent winning the top prize of $75,000 for composing a song to communicate the benefits of solar energy.

PCJ Acting General Manager, Robert Clarke, explained that his agency provided partial funding and technical support towards the solar panel project, which is among the public-sector energy efficiency initiatives that the entity is involved in over the next three to five years.  The overall goal, he said, is for these undertakings to transform energy use in public-sector agencies.

“These initiatives should help to alleviate the burden of the increasing energy expenses currently being faced by government. We have formed partnerships with multilateral agencies… to finance and implement energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in schools, hospitals and other government-operated entities islandwide,” he informed.

NESol Chairman, Oswald Williams, in his remarks explained that the area of the building covered by solar power “now has three areas of supply (of energy)” (and) the system installed is certified and up and running”.

Mr. Williams said it has been the dream of the Clinton Foundation out of the United States to put into operation this form of system, and hopes for greater partnerships between the Foundation and Jamaica.

Director of Solar Head of State, James Ellsmoor, pointed out that the organisation partners with Small Island Developing States (SIDS) for renewable energy solutions and is already in countries such as the Maldives and St. Lucia.  He said the organisation will be carrying out more installations across the world to show “the role that SIDS have in demonstrating the importance of renewable energy”.

Clinton Foundation Project Manager, Alexis Tubb, applauded the Government for its enthusiasm towards achieving clean energy.  She said the Foundation has been involved in projects in Jamaica since 2013, citing the Paradise Park solar farm in Westmoreland and Wigton Windfarm in Manchester.

“Jamaica has been closing the gap to be more sustainable and resilient, and I applaud the Prime Minister’s goal to continue towards becoming a clean energy-powered nation,” she said.

 

Release: JIS

Contact: Chad Bryan

Header: Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (centre), presents winner of the Jamaica Solar Challenge, Ryan Bent, with a trophy for composing a song to communicate the benefits of solar energy.  Mr. Bent also received a $75,000 cash prize. Occasion was a ceremony to commission solar photovoltaic panels into operation at the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) on October 16. At left is Director of Solar Head of State, James Ellsmoor.

Insert: Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, addresses a cremony to commission solar photovoltaic panels into operation at the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) on October 16.

 

Photos by Yhomo Hutchinson

Continue Reading

Caribbean News

Widow’s Testimony Recounts Night Haiti President Was Killed

Published

on

MIAMI, Florida — Emotional testimony from Martine Moïse, the widow of assassinated Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, has given jurors in a U.S. federal courtroom a chilling account of the night gunmen stormed the presidential residence and killed the country’s leader.

Martine Moïse took the stand this week in Miami as part of the ongoing trial of several men accused of helping plan and finance the July 7, 2021 assassination, a crime that plunged Haiti into political crisis and remains only partially solved.

She told the court that armed men forced their way into the president’s private home in the hills above Port-au-Prince during the early morning hours, firing multiple shots at her husband while she lay beside him. She testified that she was also wounded in the attack and survived by pretending to be dead until the gunmen left the room.

According to prosecutors, the plot involved a group of foreign mercenaries, including former Colombian soldiers, along with Haitian and Haitian-American suspects. Investigators say some of the men believed the mission was to detain the president, but the operation turned into an assassination.

The Miami trial is focusing on the alleged role of South Florida businessmen and others accused of organizing or financing the plan, part of a wider international investigation that has stretched across several countries.

More than four years after the killing, the question of who ultimately ordered the assassination remains unanswered, with suspects still in custody in both Haiti and the United States as the case continues to unfold.

Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.

Continue Reading

Caribbean News

Jamaica Joins Afreximbank Agreement, Strengthening Africa–Caribbean Partnership

Published

on

CARIBBEAN — Jamaica has become the 13th CARICOM member state to accede to the African Export-Import Bank Establishment Agreement, further strengthening economic ties between Africa and the Caribbean.

The development was confirmed during the 50th CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting, where an Afreximbank delegation led by George Elombi and Kanayo Awani met with Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness to advance cooperation.

Prime Minister Holness thanked the bank for its support following Jamaica’s recent hurricane, noting that Afreximbank financing helped restore critical infrastructure including water, electricity, sewage systems and roads, while also assisting reconstruction efforts aimed at building stronger resilience to future disasters.

The meeting also focused on broader development opportunities tied to Jamaica’s membership in the agreement. Discussions included rebuilding and modernising infrastructure such as railways, hospitals and other public facilities, while strengthening regional transportation and trade networks to improve the movement of people and goods across the Caribbean.

Afreximbank has been expanding its presence in the Caribbean as part of its strategy to connect Africa with the region often referred to as “Global Africa.” The bank has already committed billions of dollars in financing and trade support to Caribbean economies in recent years, including funding for infrastructure, trade facilitation and private sector investment.

By joining the agreement, Jamaica gains expanded access to Afreximbank’s financial instruments, technical support and trade networks designed to promote commerce between Africa and CARICOM states.

Regional leaders say the growing partnership could unlock new opportunities in areas such as trade, logistics, tourism, manufacturing and cultural exchange, strengthening economic cooperation between the two regions with deep historical and diaspora ties.

Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.

Continue Reading

Caribbean News

Liberty Caribbean Supports Regional Forum on AI, Cyber Resilience and Digital Inclusion  

Published

on

Port of Spain, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO (February 24, 2026) — Liberty Caribbean, the operators of Flow, Liberty Business and BTC, recently served as Gold-Level Partner of the two-day Trinidad and Tobago Internet Governance Forum (TTIGF), themed “The Innovation Paradox – Balancing Progress with Responsibility and Resilience”.

The Digital Divide is of particular interest to Liberty Caribbean and is being addressed through its Charitable Foundation across the region. Low broadband penetration in the Caribbean contributes to diminished opportunities for individuals, communities, and local economies, but with the support of funding partners, this gap can be addressed through a comprehensive programme – JUMP – that focuses on providing access, devices, and digital skills.

“Liberty Caribbean was proud to serve as Gold-Level Partner of the TTIGF because the conversations taking place here shape key digital policies for multiple stakeholders,” said Simone Martin-Sulgan, Vice President and General Manager, Flow Trinidad.

“As technology accelerates at an unprecedented pace, we must ensure that innovation strengthens our societies rather than fragments them. The theme, ‘The Innovation Paradox – Balancing Progress with Responsibility and Resilience,’ speaks directly to the work we do every day: building networks that are not only fast and reliable, but secure, inclusive and future-ready.”

Across the Caribbean, the digital divide remains one of the most pressing barriers to equitable growth. Low broadband penetration limits access to education, entrepreneurship and essential services, and that is why we are deeply committed to closing this gap.

Through the Liberty Caribbean Charitable Foundation and initiatives like the JUMP Programme, the company is expanding access to technology, affordable connectivity and digital skills training so that individuals and communities are empowered to participate fully in the digital economy.

Martin-Sulgan further stated “at Liberty Caribbean, we believe progress and responsibility must move in lock step. By investing in resilient networks, inclusive programmes and trusted partnerships, we are helping to build a Caribbean that is innovative, secure and prepared for the opportunities ahead.”

Topics covered during the Forum, with over 140 participants, included “Securing Critical Infrastructure”, Integrating AI into Digital Transformation”, “The Digital Divide”, The Human Cost of Innovation – Mental Health and Well-being in the Digital Age’, and AI, Cyber Resilience and Regional Innovation”.

Focused on the underlying mandate of the Conference theme thought leaders, innovators, policymakers, technologists, researchers, and community stakeholders were invited to explore how countries can evolve boldly without compromising values or long-term stability.

Photo Caption: 

TTIGF – l-r Darren Campo, Regulatory & Compliance Officer; Yolande Agard-Simmons, Senior Manager Communications; and Kevon Swift, Senior Manager Government and Regulatory Affairs of Flow Trinidad in attendance at the Post Event Mixer at Caribbean Telecommunications Union’s Head Office in St Clair, Port of Spain

Continue Reading

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

TRENDING