Media Release
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, has proposed a Caribbean Energy Thematic Fund for CARICOM member states, to address regional energy security.
Speaking at the first Caribbean Energy Security Summit, which took place on Monday in Washington, DC, the prime minister reaffirmed her government’s commitment to working with the United States and other Caribbean countries in fostering a “cleaner, more sustainable energy future” in the region.
Persad-Bissessar said, “Energy is at the heart of efforts to build resilience through improved competitiveness and stronger energy security.”
She noted that resilience can be built by transforming the energy matrix in the Caribbean, which requires a three-pronged approach:
(i) improving conservation and energy efficiency,
(ii) maximizing the use of renewable energy sources and
(iii) converting to liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuelled electricity generation for the base load capacity.
The prime minister acknowledged that the cost of this solution is not supportable for countries with high debt and minimal fiscal space, and it is therefore necessary to engender cooperation for building resilience through energy security.
Persad-Bissessar proposed a methodology to work with the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), the World Bank, the IMF and other international donors, friends of the Caribbean and the private sector to provide the method and means of achieving energy security in a considered manner that is efficient and sustainable.
She noted that the government of Trinidad and Tobago has been working in close collaboration with the IADB over the last 18 months to design a new initiative that is home-grown in the Caribbean.
“After rigorous economic analysis and technical feasibility studies and a thorough assessment of these, we have agreed as a government on the creation of a Caribbean Energy Thematic Fund for CARICOM member states,” Persad-Bissessar stated.
The target fund under discussion with the IADB will be US$1 billion, with comprehensive international participation being a trigger for Trinidad and Tobago’s commitment.
The prime minister pointed out that working with traditional donors and countries with a strategic interest in the region and the private sector can provide the necessary financial and technical support to the Caribbean for bringing state of the art methods for structuring financial support to bring about the transformation of the energy sector; while at the same time maximizing public private partnerships to the benefit of people of the region.
“We must look past short term fluctuations in oil prices to focus on the long term strategic interests of the region,” Persad-Bissessar said.
She noted that the need to focus on long term solutions was raised by members of the Trinidad and Tobago business community, energy sector companies and labour stakeholders, following discussions she held with these groups on the impact of declining energy prices on the local economy.
Persad-Bissessar thanked US Vice President Joseph Biden for his genuine interest in forging a constructive partnership and sustainable solution.
