CARICOM ENERGY POLICY APPROVED BY ENERGY MINISTERS AT FORTY-FIRST SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COTED ON ENERGY

he Special Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) on Energy, inter alia, Ministers of Energy approved the CARICOM Energy Policy.  The significance of this decision was highlighted by the Honourable Rayburn Blackmoore who was also Chairman of the Special COTED in his observation at the Opening Session that the adoption of the policy was “historic, bearing in mind this year marks 40 years since the oil crisis”.  “We recognise therefore from a collective standpoint if we are to really realise economic development there must be something deliberate by way of a policy direction on energy,” he said, adding there is a need to develop the energy sector to reduce the cost of energy. Minister Blackmoore said that the policy document in itself takes into account the efforts of all Member States and “it will provide a road map with specific timelines which will serve as a guide for Member States.”  Special thanks to Government of Trinidad and Tobago for hosting the 41st Special COTED (Energy) and also to Government of Germany for the sponsorship support provided.