To some extent it may appear strange, and perhaps paradoxical, that in Anguilla, an island where its people lived in virtual darkness for years, except for the light of the sun and moon, that they should now have a struggle with electricity which they only began to enjoy after their 1967 revolution. And yet, when one examines the circumstances, there is nothing strange about the matter. The cause for which the Government and people are contending is not only understandable, and in fact extremely necessary and desirable, but is one that is rapidly being pursued almost everywhere. The struggle is really against fossil fuel and the rising cost of electricity, necessitating a turn to such renewable sources of energy as solar and wind power.
It is almost unimaginable that despite the economic prosperity whichAnguillahas enjoyed, since its break with St. Kitts-Nevis, and the consequential high standard of living, that today there are many persons on the island without electricity. Their supply has been disconnected as a result of their inability to pay the high cost involved mainly because of the fuel surcharge; and those who are still connected are crying out against the huge, and sometimes unexplained, bills depending on the person approached for explanation.
True, with modern living comes a cost, but if there is a means to avoid or reduce that cost, as may be the case, it is difficult to understand why that opportunity and a dash for escape should not be taken. The current effort towards renewable sources of energy is not a sudden one. A considerable amount of planning work was undertaken over a period of several years and a policy document was prepared by the Anguilla National Energy Committee. If there was anything lacking in the work, it was the need for expertise and funding to drive the course of the initiative.
It is heartening, and certainly a matter for commendation, that the Government has taken up the challenge to work towards the development of renewable sources of energy and to integrate these technologies intoAnguilla’s electricity profile. Further, it is commendable that ANGLEC, a company that should be concerned with profit-making for its shareholders, as well as its own sustainability, is not only willingly facilitating the exploration of renewable sources of energy, but itself has been a provider of solar equipment for the hospital as one example. As a result of that provision, the operational costs of that facility, in terms of electricity consumption, has been considerably reduced.
There is an urgent need for a wider provision and use of renewable energy inAnguilla, at the household and business levels, and it is also encouraging that civil society, and all stakeholders in general, are all on the same wave length. The challenge has been how to get pass the legal hurdle of reforming the island’s legislative framework to develop and introduce renewable energy inAnguilla’s current electricity and energy sector.
The all-round cooperation of stakeholders – the Government, ANGLEC, the National Energy Committee and all others in the public and private sectors – is a means by whichAnguillacan free itself of a burdensome electricity cost. Particular gratitude is extended to Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN), of theUnited Kingdom, which has agreed to fund the necessary consultancy to recommend amendments to the island’s electricity legislation to allow the integration of renewable energy into the electricity system. A similar thank you is owed to CASTALIA Strategic Advisors, ofWashingtonDC, for undertaking the actual assignment.
The consultancy and recommendations will not be the end of the matter. It will then be for the Government and all sectors and stakeholders inAnguillato do what is necessary to take advantage of what should, hopefully, be a golden opportunity for us to offset the high cost of fossil fuel electricity by turning to renewable sources of energy. The final struggle against electricity will then be over when we can happily turn to the energy of sun and wind with which we are abundantly blessed.
