Business View Caribbean - February 2015 13
A host of Caribbean government and industry leaders
converged in Washington, D.C. for the first Caribbean
Energy Security Summit, hosted by Vice President Jo-
seph Biden. Representing Anguilla were The Minister
with Responsibility for Energy, the Hon. Evan Gumbs,
and David Gumbs, CEO of Anguilla Electricity Compa-
ny Ltd (ANGLEC). A series of panels discussed ways
to promote a cleaner, more sustainable energy future
through improved energy governance and greater ac-
cess to financing.
“I was excited to attend this event,” said Gumbs, CEO
of ANGLEC. “We are taking a lead role in diversifying
Anguilla’s energy portfolio and this was a great oppor-
tunity to access players in the industry. ANGLEC has
taken bold steps to transition to renewable sources of
energy production. We have studied the matter closely
over the years and are now taking bold steps in the in-
terest of Anguillans by improving energy security, eco-
nomics, quality and reliability.
“Specifically, ANGLEC is on track to generate over 50
percent of its average running capacity from renew-
ables with its solar PV initiative going into production
later this year and a waste to energy partnership ex-
pected to come on stream in the near future. With
these initiatives, we will surpass almost all countries
in the region and more than 95 percent of countries
globally in percentage of energy produced from renew-
ables.”
The Summit represented the latest in Anguilla’s on-
going efforts to brighten the lives of its people through
more effective and affordable use of its energy re-
sources, particularly its abundant wealth of sunshine.
Anguilla’s viable – and immediately usable -- renew-
able energy resources include solar hot water heating,
solar electricity production, and utility scale wind ener-
gy. In the near future, Anguilla will produce up to 4MW
of energy from a waste to energy initiative.
“The sun-drenched island of Anguilla and solar energy
represent a match made in paradise,” said Marvet
Britto, global brand strategist for Anguilla, who ar-
ranged for the island to be represented at the Summit.
“It was a vital matter of importance that Anguilla be
part of this comprehensive preview of the future of en-
ergy production in the Caribbean, and develop cleaner,
more affordable energy sources that can be enjoyed
by all Anguillans.”
One of the key panel discussions, “Comprehensive Ap-
proaches to Energy Transformation” was moderated
by Michael Carr from the United States Department of
Energy, and provided precisely the kind of focus need-
ed to help islands, such as Anguilla, overcome their
dependence on imported fossil fuels such as diesel
to generate power. The Summit was intended to offer
technical assistance, and help obtain financing and
advice on regulatory changes that can attract invest-
ment, according to an official with the Vice President’s
office involved in the event.
All of the Caribbean countries of the region, except
Cuba, were expected to participate in closed talks that
involved Biden and other U.S. officials as well as repre-
sentatives of the European Union, the U.N., and multi-
lateral financing agencies such as the World Bank and
Inter-American Development Bank.
The Summit began with remarks by the Vice President,
followed by an energy security roundtable discussion
and meetings with both heads of state and key repre-
sentatives from the private energy sector. The event
was hosted by the White House and the State Depart-
ment as part of the Caribbean Energy Security Initia-
tive begun in 2014.
