Bahamas News
CDB Meetings reveal Caribbean lagging in Renewable Energy, Billion$ needed to cross the line
By Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
June 15, 2022 – We need to find a way to lower our energy bills with renewable energy options and it’s going to take billions, but the CDB is proposing a new program to tackle it.
The CDB Accelerated Sustainable Energy and Resilient Transition 2030 (ASERT) will address volatility in the energy sector which is one of the most important challenges for the region. The CDB says they are aiming to fix the issues
and push the Caribbean towards more sustainable energy use with ASERT.
If we don’t channel our efforts into renewable energy our countries will end up being less climate resilient, there will be “major risks to poverty reduction efforts, the undermining of economic resilience efforts and risks of missing green trade opportunities”
This is according to Sustainable Energy Specialist Christopher Straughn who presented during the annual general meeting on Friday June 3rd. Straughn explained that most Borrowing Member Countries (BMC) experienced “energy insecurity” because of factors like their over dependence on one main source of energy, usually oil.
Straughn made the case that the region was full of renewable energy options but in order to harness them the sector requires 16 times more cash investments than it has now (about 1.25 billion.) He also noted that Borrowing Member Countries need to install 26,000 MW of renewable energy capacity of 1400 percent increase over the current rate to hit their 2030 goals.
The fact that oil is imported and demands foreign exchange for purchase is also a downside, as prices for shipping and raw material were subject to “market vagaries and geopolitics”
That is especially obvious this year as the Caribbean region has seen steeply rising oil prices as shipping companies raise prices and the war in Ukraine and embargos on Russian oil put a squeeze on the amount of oil available for purchase worldwide.
Even prior to the extreme insecurity of 2021 the combined Fuel Import bills of the BMCs were staggering, clocking $8 billion USD. An additional $1.8 billion was added to that in just the first five months in 2022. These facts make the case for switching to renewable energy all the more compelling.
The Caribbean is not yet where it needs to be to meet its 2030 targets but some countries are doing better than others. Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis all set targets to have over 80 percent renewable energy in country by 2030. So far Belize and Dominica are leading the pack being over the 40 percent mark. No other country has set such high performance targets or made it that far into their targets (almost 50 percent).
The Turks and Caicos Islands, Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Grenada, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago all remain below 10 percent. This is where the ASERT-2030 Program comes in, there will be a robust dialogue to agree on transformative initiatives and strategize on how to move quickly but inclusively.
Some of those transformative initiatives include a resilient roofs initiative, wide scale greening of the public sector and harnessing offshore wind.
Rashaed Esson
Staff Writer
#TheBahamas, September 29, 2023 – With moves to deepen ties, governments of The Bahamas and Qatar have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to solidify agreements in principle surrounding the development of aviation and other related services.
This is according to Chester Cooper, The Bahamas Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investment and Aviation in a Facebook post.
This comes after The Bahamas Government in a press release on September 24th, revealed that Cooper, was set to meet with the head of Qatar Airways to have talks regarding “multiple mutually beneficial aviation opportunities for both countries.”
The release also said the deputy prime minister and the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investment and Aviation are working on “forging strategic partnerships with several Middle Eastern countries to strengthen ties to The Bahamas and the Caribbean,” and this new signing is indicative of such efforts.
Following the September 25th signing, on September 27th, Kenneth Romer, Deputy Director General of Tourism for The Bahamas informed via Facebook some details of the agreement saying, “we have now established a framework for cooperation and formed strategic partnerships with Qatar Airways, Qatar’s Transport, Aviation and Investment Agencies and The Qatar Aeronautical Academy, that will benefit our country.”
Regarding further efforts for the improvement of The Bahamas, Cooper announced on Facebook again on Tuesday September 26th that both countries are working to make Nassau a passenger hub for Latin America and the Caribbean adding that talks are being held for Grand Bahama as a cargo hub.
Additionally, as the press release informed, Cooper is preparing for an on ground visit of Bahamasair domestic operations by Qatar Airways Technical team sometime in October.
Defence Headquarters 28 SEP ’23: HMBS P-45 under the command of Chief Petty Officer Acadia Smith
detained a group of Cuban migrants in Cistern Cay, Exuma on September 27, 2023, due to information received from a Good Samaritan vessel in the area that handed them over to the Royal Bahamas Defence Force.
Members of HMBS P-45 retrieved twenty-eight (28) Cuban nationals and transported them to HMBS Coral Harbour in New Providence. All individuals appeared to be in good health and will undergo further processing and assessment by Immigration officials.
The Royal Bahamas Defence Force remains dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in guarding our heritage and
appreciates the sharing of information and intelligence provided by the boating community to affect migrants and other unlawful interdictions at sea.
(For additional information, contact the RBDF Public Relations Department or visit our official website at www.rbdf.gov.bs. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest updates and explore our engaging content on our YouTube channel).
RBDF
#BARBADOS (September 26, 2023) – The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) deeply mourns the loss of distinguished Bahamian leader and former chairman of the inter-regional body, Obediah Wilchcombe.
At the time of his passing, Mr. Wilchcombe was serving as Minister of Social Services, Information and Broadcasting
and Leader of Government Business in the House of Assembly of the Bahamas.
“We extend our heartfelt prayers and condolences to Minister Wilchcombe’s family, as well as the government and people of the Bahamas. He was a true champion for the people of the Bahamas and the wider Caribbean region,” remarked Kenneth Bryan, CTO Chairman and Minister of Tourism and Ports of the Cayman Islands.
Chairman Bryan recalled Minister Wilchcombe held the position of CTO Chairman twice (2002-2004 and 2016-2017) while serving as Minister of Tourism for the Bahamas, and contributed significantly to the advancement of sustainable tourism development in the Caribbean.
Chairman Bryan noted that the CTO plans to honor the life and legacy of “this eminent Bahamian leader” at the organization’s upcoming business meetings and the State of the Industry Conference (SOTIC) in Turks and Caicos next month.
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