Business View Caribbean | May 2019

3 BUSINESS VIEW CARIBBEAN MAY 2019 O p e n i n g L i n e s M A Y 2 0 1 9 RENEWABLES TO BECOME THE NORM FOR THE CARIBBEAN J amaica and other Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are embracing renewable energy as part of their plans to become decarbonized in the coming decades. The Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness, has committed the island nation to transition to 50 percent renewable energy by 2030. “I believe that we can do better. Jamaica has sunshine all year-round and strong winds in certain parts of the island,” Holness said. Solar Head of State (SHOS), a nonprofit that helps world leaders become green leaders by installing solar panels on government buildings, has been assisting Jamaica and other Caribbean countries with their renewable energy transition. James Ellsmoor, the group’s Director and Co-Founder said they partnered with Jamaica’s government to install and commission a state-of-the-art solar photovoltaic (PV) array at Jamaica House, the office of the Prime Minister. “Following similar installations by the president of the Maldives and governor-general of Saint Lucia, Jamaica’s prominent adoption of solar sets an example for other nations around the world that renewable energy can make a global impact,” Ellsmoor said. “While island nations such as Jamaica are the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, this project is a reminder that they are also leading in finding solutions.” Holness heralded the solar installation on his office as emblematic of the clean energy It shows good leadership for the office of the Prime Minister to be outfitted with solar panels, which will reduce their consumption