by Curlan Campbell
- Victor Clark officially began duties on 9 January 2023
- Grenada relies on 97% more or less fossil fuels
- CDB embarked on Accelerated Sustainable Energy and Resilience Transition 2030
New Resident British Commissioner to Grenada Victor Clark believes sustainable renewable energy is an area in which Grenada has a significant competitive advantage and must start the shift to reduce the country’s near 100% reliance on imported fossil fuels for electricity generation, leaving the country vulnerable to global oil price fluctuations that directly impact the cost of electricity.
Clark, who replaced Wendy Freeman, officially began his duties on 9 January 2023 and outlined the priority areas of focus as the UK seeks to build deeper cooperation with the Caribbean.
“The biggest transition that Grenada is facing is within its energy sector,” he said. “At the moment, Grenada relies on 97% more or less for fossil fuels, and the whole world is moving towards renewable energy. Grenada is blessed with almost constant sun; it is blessed with geothermal potential; it is blessed with wind, so there is a huge potential to change the energy infrastructure of Grenada, and we have been working a lot in the UK in recent years to do the same.”
Since energy efficiency and sustainability are recurring issues that challenge the Caribbean energy sector, Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has embarked on the Accelerated Sustainable Energy and Resilience Transition 2030 (ASERT-2030) to support CDB Borrowing Member Countries (BMCs) seeking to increase their energy sector transition towards renewable energy. This initiative aligns with the ambitious net zero commitments and renewable energy targets set by Caribbean countries.
“I am hoping that there will be a collaboration between the government and the private sector because it will need huge amounts of investment to be able to realise this transition that will be so transformational for the people of Grenada,” he said. “We will need close collaboration with private sector but also civil society and NGOs, because Grenada has to work as a country and bring everybody on board.”
Another priority on the agenda is promoting and maintaining independent journalism as the UK remains committed to improving media freedom at home and abroad.
“We believe in the UK that the media forms part of the checks and balances of any country,” he said. “You need a strong media that is able to challenge the government and challenge anyone in a position of power within the private sector. The media must be the voice of the people and make sure that things are happening above board.”
Other priority areas outlined by the Resident British Commissioner are climate change, health, education, security, good governance, infrastructure, renewable energy and the Blue Economy.
Since joining the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in 2003, Clark has served across several political and management roles in Latin America, including Quito, Mexico City, Buenos Aires, San Salvador and Caracas.
