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Proactive measures to develop sustainable energy options for the Caribbean lauded
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Chamber Chief Lauds Energy Initiative:
Bahama Journal -
Nassau, Bahamas:



President of The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce, Dionisio D’Aguilar is lauding proactive measures being taken by the United States Government and regional energy officials and stakeholders to develop sustainable energy options for The Caribbean.

Officials are preparing to meet during two high-powered energy conferences slated for July 23 and 24 at the Sheraton Cable Beach Resort.

The Caribbean Regional Sustainable Energy High Level Seminar sponsored by the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (GS/OAS), the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the Government of the United States.

"For too long we have all been reactive in dealing with the varied challenges of ever increasing energy costs. Now, it is imperative that we become proactive and begin as a nation and a region to develop sustainable energy options," D’Aguilar commented.

"The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce is incredibly grateful to the United States Ambassador to The Bahamas, Ned Siegel, the Organization of American States as well as the other regional bodies and stakeholders for convincing the powers that be, to hold these two very important energy seminars here in The Bahamas," he said

"This in itself, says a great deal about the extremely close ties that exist between The Bahamas, the United States and our sister countries throughout the Caribbean, especially when one considers that these seminars could have very well been held in any other country in the Caribbean or city in the United States," D’Aguilar added.

He said, "The Chamber of Commerce is very excited to participate in the two energy seminars. He explained that the organization, which represents the interests of the private sector in the country, has repeatedly articulated its concerns that energy costs in the country continue to rise at a very expeditious rate."

"High energy costs continue to be a pressing concern for major business establishments from a broad spectrum of industries from tourism to retail as well as for individual household owners. Every business and energy consumer in this country needs to seriously think about how they can reduce their energy costs, as well as the amount of kilowatt hours they actually use, by using alternative forms of energy," D’Aguilar commented.

Pointing to countries such as Barbados and St. Lucia which have taken proactive steps in using alternative forms of energy, Mr. D’Aguilar who recently visited St. Lucia noted that many of the homes on that island nation, used solar panel systems in order to heat water.

"Inevitably oil prices will continue to rise, and really there is very little that the Government can do about it. As a result, consumers need to become more informed and proactive and take their concerns into their own hands," D’Aguilar said.

He added, "Now the Government can provide incentives and can educate you about it, but at the end of the day it is you as the consumer who is going to have to make the decision…You have to be educated to the point that when you walk into a store and a hot water heater costs $500.00 and a solar paneled one cost $3,000.00, and you say well obviously the traditional hot water is cheaper. Yes, it may be cheaper on day one, but essentially it costs more to operate. So you have to be educated on how to make that calculation and say yes, this is worth my while."

D’Aguilar, who is also the President of Superwash Laundromat, New Providence’s largest chain of laundromats, which uses a considerable amount of energy to run its operations, has made repeated calls for reverse metering, a system in which persons using alternative forms of energy can resell unused energy back to electrical suppliers such as The Bahamas Electricity Corporation, in the case of The Bahamas.

The Chamber Chief indicated that he is pleased by recent assurances made by Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham to seriously consider looking at The National Energy Plan in portions, which he believes will bring some measure of relief to consumers right away, rather than seeking to implement the plan, in its entirety.

"So this seminar, while it is more on a macro-level as opposed to a micro-level will begin to sow the seeds of what we should do, firstly, as a nation and secondly, as individual businesses to address this extremely vexing problem," he added.

D’ Aguilar said he thinks Bahamian businesses would be remiss if they did not take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to participate in the energy seminars.

July 21, 2008

July 21, 2008 | 12:26 PM Comments  0 comments

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