GHTA Supports Government’s Proposed Electricity Supply Act

ST. GEORGE’S, GRENADA - June 8, 2015 - The Grenada Hotel and Tourism Association (GHTA) expresses support for the proposed Electricity Supply Act (ESA) put forward by the Government of Grenada. The GHTA Directors commended the government for taking decisive action to amend the ESA in a consultation the government held with social partners at the Trade Center on July 7^th, 2015.

The GHTA representatives clearly indicated their support for the new act because of all the benefits it will bring Grenada. Firstly opening up Grenada to renewable energy investors means Grenadians will benefit from energy cost reductions. This means businesses can grow without the limitation energy costs are creating now. It also means that new business investments are more likely to be developed, creating new jobs for Grenadians. Structural changes really do lead to jobs; as demonstrated by the 226 jobs created by the Tourism reforms between 2013-2014 alone.

As the co-founders of the Pure Grenada brand, the tourism sector recognizes that sound environmental stewardship is not a luxury. The proposed ESA will help to attract renewable energy investments; which the business leaders in tourism claim must be urgently addressed to mitigate climate change.

In 2012, the GHTA publicly issued an Earth Day Energy Declaration indicating a desire to be the first carbon neutral hotel sector in the world and indicated an urgent need to reduce energy prices and eliminate the use of fossil fuels for energy production. In keeping with this commitment the GHTA has been implementing a project since 2014 funded by the CARICOM Development Fund to reduce energy consumption among GHTA members.

The GHTA is also acutely aware of the need for a reduction in the cost of energy for domestic users in Grenada. Solar energy is currently out of the reach of most consumers but there is little doubt that technology will develop quickly to make it affordable for all. Access to cheap renewable energy will become available to all Grenadians as this technology improves. The GHTA believes that the revised Electricity Supply Act is the first step toward realising the wellbeing of the nation through personal and economic growth.

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About Grenada Hotel & Tourism Association

The Grenada Hotel and Tourism Association (GHTA) is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation tasked with being the representative private sector voice of the island’s tourism sector. The Association is managed by a Board of Directors responsible for guiding the Association’s strategies and polices, while an Executive Director responsible for the day-to-day duties of the Association, which manages the secretariat. GHTA’s main purpose is to advocate and lobby on behalf of its members on matters affecting the tourism industry. In addition, the Association promotes educational opportunities for industry workers; assist in the development of cultural activities and aids in marketing the businesses of its members.

About Compete Caribbean

Compete Caribbean is a private sector development program that provides technical assistance grants and investment funding to support productive development policies, business climate reforms, clustering initiatives and Small and Medium Size Enterprise (SME) development activities in the Caribbean region. The program, jointly funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) and the Government of Canada, supports projects in 15 Caribbean countries. Projects in the OECS countries are implemented in partnership with the Caribbean Development Bank.