Considers solar energy
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – WITH the multitude of complaints from electricity consumers about the cost of the supply flooding the airwaves and street corners, Minister of Finance and Prime Minister the Right Honourable Dr. Denzil L. Douglas has reiterated that his government continues to work on reducing the cost of electricity.
The Prime Minister – speaking Tuesday (Oct. 16) on his weekly radio programme ‘Ask the Prime Minister’ – expressed thegovernment’s continued thrust in the direction of opening doors for renewable energy.
“…even though the government is not in a position to subsidize the electricity services in the way that we did in the past, the government is prepared and is determined and is working on bringing the cost of electricity down. And we will do it! There seems to be some notion that because I said in May, the cost of electricity is too high and it must come down… I say that same thing now! The cost of electricity is high and this government is determined to bring it down and it will bring it down. And we will bring it down by the government’s investment in renewable energy supplies.”
To this end, Dr. Douglas explained that the government has been consulting with the Taiwanese and Indian governments with a view to introduce solar energy to the Federation.
“The government continues to work feverishly with the Taiwanese government firstly to introduce solar energy systems so that our electricity consumption dependent upon fuel that is brought in from outside will be less.
“The government is working with the government of India and private sector people as well to ensure that there is an appropriate solar system that can be utilised in order to provide electricity so that our dependence upon fossil fuel energy will be less. It means that the fuel surcharge will disappear and as a result of that, your electricity…consumption will cost less and so your bill will be lessened as well."
