MINISTERS OF ENERGY MEET IN ST. KITTS AND NEVIS TO CHART THE WAY FORWARD FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT IN THE OECS
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, February 04, 2025 (SKNIS) – Minister with responsibility for Energy in the Federal Cabinet of St. Kitts and Nevis, the Honourable Konris Maynard, is presiding over the Third Meeting of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Council of Ministers: Energy. The meeting is being held at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort from February 04-05, 2025.
Among the important matters being discussed at the two-day high-level meeting is a landmark strategy to drive economic transformation through sustainable energy over the next decade across OECS territories, through the endorsement of the OECS Sustainable Energy Roadmap 2025-2035.
This year’s meeting is convened under the theme, “Sustainable Energy: Creating Opportunities for Reinventing the Economy of the OECS”. Reflecting on the significance of the theme during today’s opening ceremony, Minister Maynard said sustainable energy development can no longer be looked at simply as a mere goal, but rather as the pathway to unlocking new economic opportunities, driving innovation and building resilience for the small island developing states of the OECS.
“Transitioning our energy infrastructure to sustainable energy sources, characterised by being indigenous, clean and renewable presents a significant opportunity to reinvent our economies,” Minister Maynard said, adding, “When combined with the energy efficiency measures this transition creates a multiplied effect.”
The honourable minister reminded the gathering that the OECS region is blessed with an abundance of natural resources—wind, solar, geothermal and the ocean—that can all be utilised to combat the challenges of climate change and sustainably power regional economies.
“Harnessing these resources requires vision, cooperation, and most importantly a commitment to long-term change that benefits our people and our planet,” said Minister Maynard, the incoming chair of the OECS Council of Ministers: Energy.
He further noted that the objectives of this week’s meeting align with St. Kitts and Nevis’ own pursuit of its Sustainable Island State Agenda (SISA), which is a priority of the current administration.
The minister stated that as the government works to transition the country to a cleaner, more resilient energy system, it has become clear that sustainable energy development is a major pillar in realising this vision.
“Our goal is to reduce our dependence on imported fossil fuel, strengthen energy security and create a robust economy based on renewable energy. Whether it’s through our efforts in expanding solar energy or our focus on tapping into geothermal potential on the island of Nevis, we are determined to ensure that our development is not at the expense of future generations but for their prosperity,” Minister Maynard stressed.
In addition to the presentation on the OECS Sustainable Energy Roadmap 2025-2035, ministers are also expected to review ambitious but practical energy targets, including achieving 30 percent renewable energy penetration across the OECS by 2030, with a minimum of 20 percent in each member state, and 50 per cent penetration by 2035.
-30-
