NIA-CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (April 12, 2011) — Minister responsible for Public Utilities and Energy on Nevis Hon. Carlisle Powell voiced dissatisfaction with the turnout of invitees to the National Energy Policy Summit at Pinneys Beach Hotel on Tuesday, in an interview with the Department of information, as he stressed its critical importance to electricity consumers on Nevis.

The forum was hosted by the Ministry of Public Woks Utilities, Transport and Port in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) in collaboration with the Organisation of American States (OAS) and the Energy Department in the Federal Ministry of Housing, Energy, Public Works and Utilities.

“First of all I am disappointed that more of the invited persons did not attend the forum. This National Energy Forum is absolutely vital for us in Nevis, especially those of us in the energy sector but more particularly for the average consumer of electricity.

“This morning went beautifully though. The persons who came made some very good comments and it gives a basis to move forward,” he said.

The draft National Energy Policy Forum which was prepared by the Ministry of Housing, Energy, Public Works and Utilities and the Department of Sustainable Development of the Federal Government of St. Kitts and Nevis, with support from the OAS CSEP Program and the European Union Energy Initiative (2006-2011) planned to bring together stakeholders for their input in the National Energy Policy, a document, intended to clarify the position of the government of St. Kitts and Nevis with regard to the nation’s energy development.

It is also proposed to foster the development of an appropriate legal, institutional and economic framework as well as management mechanisms that would enable sustainable and sound economic energy activities and services.

According to a brochure handed out at Tuesday’s Forum, the overarching goals of the draft policy would be to strengthen the competitiveness of the economy of St. Kitts and Nevis; to establish/transition to a strong position as a leading nation with regard to sustainable energy development and to address international climate change mitigation and adaptation issues.

Meantime, Head of the Energy and Climate Change Mitigation Division of the Department of Sustainable Development in the OAS Mr. Mark Lambrides, in an invited comment, thought the forum on Nevis went well and had achieved the desired objectives

“I think that the conversations today fully met our objectives in terms of being able to present the draft of the National Energy Policy to solicit input from various product stake holders in terms of the content. I think the people have a better understanding now in terms of what is contained in the National Energy Policy.

“Now when they [stakeholders] sit down and read it, which they will now have an opportunity to do, they will have a good starting point. We have asked people to take a couple of weeks at their convenience to review the document and to give us their input. What we will do is collect all those comments and we will make modifications to the National Energy Policy with the comments from both citizens of Nevis and then St. Kitts and then together come up with a consolidated final version of the National Energy Policy,” he said.

The second consultation is planned for stakeholders in St. Kitts shortly.