Business View Caribbean - Mar 2024

Source- thecaribbeannewsnow.com , Caribbean New Editor, First Published 15th March, 2024 Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC) and Green Solutions International SKN Incorporated (GSI) proudly announce a transformative partnership to establish the Caribbean Centre of Excellence in Research, Innovation, and Workforce Training. This pioneering initiative will be unveiled on 9th April 2024 and aims to position St. Kitts and the wider Caribbean region at the forefront of sustainable innovation and skilled workforce development. The Centre, which will focus on solar photovoltaic (PV) installation and electric vehicles (EV) maintenance and repairs, will be housed within the College’s Technical Vocational Education and Management Studies (TVEMS) Division. The project will begin with a six-week “Train-the- Trainer” workshop, featuring five weeks of online, self-paced instruction and a one-week face-to-face, hands-on practical component. As the regional hub for training in solar PV installation and EV maintenance and repairs, the Centre will fill a significant gap in the Eastern Caribbean, where comparable comprehensive PV and EV training and services are scarce. Funded by the GEF (Global Environment Facility) Small Grants Programme at an estimated cost of US$116,900, the training will be offered free the first time around for CFBC to build its capacity to sustain the project. The partnership between CFBC and GSI was formalised through a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signed on 20th November 2023. The Centre and its associated initiatives represent a major stride towards realising a sustainable energy future for the Caribbean region. By equipping local and regional professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to innovate and implement sustainable CARIBBEAN CENTRE OF RESEARCH, INNOVATION AND WORKFORCE TRAINING TO BE LAUNCHED OPENING L INES energy solutions, the Centre aims to drive economic growth, enhance environmental protection, and improve the quality of life across the region. A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR THE CARIBBEAN In March 2023, GSI entered into an exclusive international partnership agreement with the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners® (NABCEP®) to establish NABCEP Caribbean, the first regional solar energy training and development hub. Notably, NABCEP’s PV Installation Professional (PVIP®) Certification is accredited to the internationally recognised ISO/IEC 17024 by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Commenting on the launch of the Centre, Dr Wayne E. Archibald, Executive Director, GSI, said,“I am thrilled to announce the establishment of the Caribbean Centre of Excellence in Research, Innovation and Workforce Training with our valued partner, the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College. This initiative represents a collaborative effort to drive innovation, foster 9 BUSINESS VIEW CARIBBEAN VOLUME 11, ISSUE 03