Published on 12-Mar-10

St. John's -- March 12, 2010 -– The recently established National Energy Task Force has begun the process of data gathering and is also gearing up for a series of stakeholder consultations as it fulfils its mandate of producing a comprehensive and strategic National Sustainable Energy Policy.

Should harness the sunshine

St. John’s -- March 12, 2010 --- The recently established National Energy Task Force has begun the process of data gathering and is also gearing up for a series of stakeholder consultations as it fulfils its mandate of producing a comprehensive and strategic National Sustainable Energy Policy.

The 18-member Task Force which was established by Prime Minister the Honorable W. Baldwin Spencer, is to be chaired by electrical engineer Edward Baynes while project manager Brian Lyn is to be the deputy chair of the body.

Baynes noted “I am grateful for the opportunity to serve on this Task Force. We have a lot of work to do and I am looking forward to the challenge. I think that renewable energy is the way to go. We are blessed with an abundance of sunshine and wind and we should harness them.”

The Task Force includes Dalma Hill (Antigua and Barbuda Chamber of Commerce), Neil Forrester (Antigua Hotels and Tourist Association), George Phillips (Trade Union Congress), Lyndon Francis (APUA), Philmore James (Fisheries Division), Morrison Burns (National Solid Waste Management Authority), Fitzmaurice Christian (Antigua and Barbuda Investment Authority), Charmaine Hackett (Ministry of Trade and Commerce), Kelvin Punter (Barbuda Council) and Ambassador Dianne Black-Layne (Environment Division).

Civil engineer Reuben Everon Zachariah, businessman and engineer Mario Bento, sustainable energy enthusiast John Birk and engineer Milton Pringle will also sit on the Task Force. The Antigua and Barbuda Transport Board and DCA will shortly be selecting representatives to join the Task Force.

“I am confident that this task force will produce a progressive Energy Policy. This Task Force includes some of the best minds in Antigua and Barbuda. We are happy that they have come on board to assist the government to develop and implement a comprehensive Energy Policy,” said Chief Implementation Officer in the Office of the Prime Minister, Ambassador Joan Underwood.