Daraine Luton, Staff Reporter
Prime Minister Bruce Golding - FIle
PRIME MINISTER Bruce Golding has outlined several measures aimed at reducing the country's high energy bill.
In his maiden budget speech as prime minister last week Tuesday, Golding stressed that the cost of energy was the most immediate challenge facing the economy.
"It affects virtually everything - the cost of production, transportation, the cost of living. It is the biggest drain on our foreign exchange," Golding emphasised.
'Play your part'
He told the country that everyone must play their part to reduce the country's energy bills. The prime minster said that households have been reducing their energy consumption (end) from an average of 200 kWh per month to 175 kWh in the last 5 years.
"But we must do more. We must each make a conscious effort to turn off lights and appliances when they are not needed, carpooling instead of driving separate vehicles in the same direction".
Golding said that government would lead by example. "We have established an Energy Conser-vation Unit in the Cabinet Office to coordinate an effort across all ministries and agencies to reduce our energy consumption by 15 per cent this year," the prime minister said.
Energy coordinator
"I have instructed permanent secretaries to ensure that an energy coordinator is identified in every ministry, department and agency to be responsible for energy conservation and to ensure that we achieve the target.
Golding said that Energy Minister Clive Mullings would be undertaking a review of the tax regime as it applies to energy-conservation devices.
"We intend to reduce the duties on energy-efficient devices and penalise those that are energy-inefficient. Duties on solar and photovoltaic devices have already been reduced, but there are parts and accessories that were omitted. We intend to reduce them as well," he outlined.
Golding said that it was the intention of the government to introduce several tax exemptions, and tax credits, as well as, accelerated depreciation allowances to businesses and households that invest in energy-saving installations.
daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com
