Above: Charlestown (CJ Photo)
By the Caribbean Journal staff
A two-member delegation from the Clinton Foundation recently visited Nevis to discuss the island’s move toward renewable energy development.
Nevis Premier Vance Amory held talks with Clinton Foundation Global Director Jan Hartke and Programme Manager David Alcaly at his office at Bath Plain on Wednesday, joined by Junior Minister for the Evironment Troy Liburd and Permanent Secretary Ernie Stapleton.
“I think the interaction we had this morning was really very meaningful, very helpful and I think you have come at the right time because we are at the point of discussing with persons, agencies, businesses which have sent proposals on the way in which they want to develop geothermal energy, renewable energy in Nevis,” Amory said in a statement.
“We are at that point where we are discussing with them and selecting the best proposal and the best company to do the work for us and so your coming this morning has helped us to have a better understanding of where your foundation, the Clinton Foundation, stands on this and your offer, I think, of assisting us to ensure we get the best, once we continue along this path, is really very, very encouraging,” he said.
Nevis has been working on developing geothermal near Nevis Peak for some time, although the project had been stalled for several years.
Hartke, who works with the Clinton Climate Initiative Clean Energy said the organization’s goal was to help small island developing states move toward renewable energy.
“Environmental protection and climate change can all go hand-in-hand and so we had a wonderful meeting this morning with the Premier and I think we see eye-to-eye on how to move forward on bringing renewable energy to Nevis and how to be able to work together on a variety of programmes that would relate to environmental issues and climate issues but also help on the economic front,” he said.
The foundation’s namesake, former US President Bill Clinton, has been an outspoken advocate of the development of green energy in the Caribbean, which continues to be crippled by high fuel costs.