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Basseterre, St. Kitts, May 12, 2016 (SKNIS): On Wednesday’s edition (May 11) of the radio-television talk show, ‘Working for You’, the Honourable Ian Patches Liburd, Minister with responsibility for Energy, has renewed his call for every citizen in St. Kitts and Nevis to be able to have access to affordable energy, which he believes that renewable energy can provide.

 

The minster said that the Federation is blessed with wind, sunshine and two volcanoes with which renewable energy can be harnessed. He added that the government is of the view that with these resources, both countries and can become self-sufficient.

 

“We believe that when we develop these resources, in particular geothermal, it will propel us towards sustainability in terms of our development and in terms of economic growth,” the minister said, adding that these efforts are of critical importance to the government.

 

He highlighted the dangers that carbon emissions have on the climate and said that the government is looking forward to a carbon free economy and environment and lower energy costs.

 

“We believe that if we are able to achieve self-sufficiency with the use of these resources, we will ensure that we have energy security and enhance economic growth,” said Minister Liburd. “We believe also that there must be equity in terms of energy distribution as we are of the view that every citizen of this country must have access to affordable electricity. This can be achieved once we use these types of resources, in particular geothermal.”

 

The minister mentioned that the hotel sector can possibly benefit from the low energy costs.

 

“I was told that energy cost in the hotel sector is almost 50 percent of its overheads,” he explained. “If we can reduce the cost of energy with going towards renewables, of course you are enhancing not only operations in the hotel sector but in the manufacturing sector, in other businesses, and of course and most importantly, the cost to the average man or the consumer.”