A lot of $$$ leaving VI through fossil fuel importation– Premier
Premier Wheatley made the statements while delivering the 2024 Budget Address at Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium, H. Lavity Stoutt Community College in Paraquita Bay, Tortola on November 21, 2023.
The Finance Minister said the VI needs to start adopting more green energy solutions.
“Madam Speaker, it is a well-established fact that Going Green is good for the environment and has the potential to save money. A lot of money is spent in fossil fuel, and because fossil fuels have to be imported, this is also an avenue by which a lot of money leaves our economy.”
Premier Wheatley added that, in addition to the cost savings, fossil fuels remain a dirty form of energy.
“There are a lot of benefits from green procurement, and it is the policy of the Government to ensure that green technology and practices are factored into public projects. We continue to urge persons to embrace the incentives for transitioning to renewable energy, so that we can lessen our carbon footprint and save money,” he said.
Green Pledge Drive launching soon - Premier
The Premier said within the next few weeks, the Ministry for the Environment and Climate Change will be launching the Green Pledge Drive.
“The Green Pledge Drive seeks to scale up the existing Green Pledge programme which encourages all businesses and organisations, including Government agencies, to go “green” by reducing environmental impacts during both development and operations. Government will lead by example by making a Public Service Pledge,” he detailed.
The Premier’s statements come as the locals, including the main opposition, have been calling for ways to reduce the cost of fuel and electricity in the Virgin Islands (VI).
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18 Responses to “A lot of $$$ leaving VI through fossil fuel importation– Premier”
I feel the pain. I think the Madame Speaker must be laughing hard inside, while keeping she face straight.sI cannot for the life of me envision that it will get worst. Printing up papers filling up forms and paste things on the doors of businesses tells that they are going green. It’s really laughable!
Get some action her mehson, honorable people. It’s not going good outside of the bubble you all are seemly living in.
Image some people done work since November 15, they haven’t seen one cent of pay in their account, November 30 come and the boss decide to write a check for 500$ , saying he ain’t get his check yet.
Going green is a BS lie from hell, you and all the rest jokers knows this!
STOP fooling y'all self with this nonsense.
What is the ROI on going green?? non of the green deal equipment is recyclable ask green VI, they can't get what they been collecting shipped out the BVI all now.
Moreover, in regards to the leakage of dollars from the VI because of the total import and use of fossil fuel. Well, the VI is energy insecure and resource -poor. Additionally, in spite of the robust drive towards renewable energy, oil/fossil fuel is King. Oil has replaced gold as the power broker in world economies. The countries that produced oil run things with many conflicts occurring over oil. Oil has made former impoverished countries now extremely wealthy, ie, Middle East countries, and has an interest in delaying the shift, transition to renewable energy.
Yes, VI is leaking money out of its economy for fossil fuel, for it has no oil to extract, refine and distribute locally, so it has it has to import oil like almost a 100% of its other needs. It is resource-poor with a service-based economy. Government must developed a structured, concrete plan for reducing the dependence on fossil fuels, shifting towards renewable energy. It needs more that glib talk to make things happen.
Maybe its time for a limit on gas/diesel vehicles in the BVI?