Basseterre, St. Kitts (MoPIEUDT NEWS) – At his first biannual progress update discussion for 2025, the Hon. Konris Maynard, Minister of Public Infrastructure, Energy, Utilities, Domestic Transport, Information, Communication and Technology, and Post, engaged with Energy Unit Director, Dr. Bertill Browne, and journalist Eboni Brandon, about energy-related matters.
Dr. Browne highlighted several areas of development in the sector, including the Small-scale Distributed Renewable Energy Regulations, the Electric Vehicle Action and Policy Plan, the Caribbean Resilient Renewable Energy Infrastructure Investment Facility (RREIIF), and the OECS Sustainable Energy Greenprint, inter alia.
Dr. Browne indicated that stakeholders on both islands were cooperating well to realize the energy agenda. He intimated, however, that the current legal and regulatory framework may impede some progress.
“There is a lot of cooperation between St. Kitts and Nevis, between SKELEC and NEVLEC. […] The issue is not [that] the institutions or the individuals [are] not cooperating with respect to Nevis, but it is the legal and regulatory framework within which we have to work.”
– Dr. Bertill Browne, Director of the Energy Unit
Further developing that point, Minister Maynard indicated that the synergy within the federal cabinet is favourable to progress, referencing critical collaborations with the Hon. Dr. Joyelle Clarke, whose portfolio includes sustainable development, the environment, and climate action.
Concerning the collaboration between St. Kitts and Nevis, Minister Maynard had this to say:
“As a result of this renewed effort to understand that our energy independence is much more significant than any political differences we may have, I have insisted, and required, that the two utilities, along with the unit and the Ministries meet regularly to have formal updates on everything that we are doing so that neither island is left behind. […]
The synergies are developing momentum […] to the benefit of St. Kitts and Nevis as we forge into this new energy space.”
– Hon. Konris Maynard
The in-depth discussion with Minister Maynard was held at the Royal St. Kitts Marriott Resort on Thursday, June 5, 2025, under the theme, “Delivering for the People, Transformative Progress Across Public Infrastructure, Energy, Utilities, Domestic Transport; ICT and Post.“
For more information, please visit mopieudt.gov.kn.
