Black Immigrant Daily News

By Racquel Moses

Late last year the world passed an important population mark, with over 8 billion people now living on the planet. In the face of a growing movement to future-proof current infrastructure and systems, sustainable practices are being implemented across a wide range of sectors. Renewable energy, electric transport, blue and green economic opportunities, eco-tourism – these are all topics we see discussed relatively frequently, yet one sector will be critical in maintaining the global community: agriculture.

Smart Agriculture in Action

Smart agriculture has been a slow but steadily growing industry that seeks to maximize crop production using the least amount of resources and space possible. Currently, the market for smart agriculture is set to grow from $15.45 billion USD in 2022 to $32.37 billion by 2028. This represents a major shift for this burgeoning industry, and we are seeing it take hold in the Caribbean such as Flex Farms by Fork Farms in Anguilla, who have developed a compact hydroponics solution that works in tandem with local farmers to improve food security for the island. Introduced by the Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator, this execution contributes to Anguilla’s food security plan which has regional implications.

“Knowledge is made to be shared, it does no good to keep it all to ourselves,” explains Government Minister for Agriculture Quincia Gumbs-Marie in an interview with the CCSA, “As a region we are very close but we are also very isolated, we don’t talk to each other enough about our problems. In that isolation we trick ourselves into thinking that the problems we face are unique to us, and when we talk to each other we realize we have shared problems and also shared solutions. [Anguilla] is part of the solution-sharing team.” As such, the Caribbean island is working to integrate smart agriculture into its domestic market, and identifying its capacities for sustainable long-term growth.

Food Insecurity: A Silent Crisis

A 2022 survey jointly carried out by CARICOM and the United Nations World Food Programme found that food insecurity in the region is on an ‘upward trajectory’. Almost 60% of persons living in the English-speaking Caribbean face food insecurity. For the WFP, this is a concerning trend that is being replicated globally, with a record 349 million people across 79 countries found to be facing acute food insecurity last year. Key to combating this issue is creating more opportunities for resilient locally-led agricultural projects capable of surmounting external shocks, providing more food choices in local markets at a cheaper price.

“For the first time in over two years, people’s inability to meet food and essential needs were top concerns, followed by unemployment,” said Joseph Cox, Assistant Secretary-General, Economic Integration, Innovation and Development, CARICOM Secretariat at the release of the WFP survey “CARICOM recognizes that further support is necessary to reduce the level of need in the region and establish systems which facilitate access to nutritious food for all. Leaders in the region are actively engaging with decision makers across all relevant sectors to identify solutions for increasing food production and reducing import dependency within the region in order to reduce the cost of food.”

Locals Solutions to Global Issues

Integrating smart agriculture into our communities can be one of the steps towards solving food insecurity issues, but collaboration remains our biggest advantage. Anguilla is providing the first step towards smart agriculture in the region, and we must capitalize on this opportunity to find the solutions that fit best for the Caribbean as a whole. “We are excited at the thought of bringing the region together through innovation and moving forward with our aspirations to achieve food security across the region,” notes Minister Gumbs-Marie, “As a world we are moving towards food security, and it is through partnerships like this that we move past identifying the problem and towards identifying the solutions.” Smart agriculture is one of the key solutions for the Caribbean to develop and make our own, Anguilla will lead the way, but more are certain to follow.

NewsAmericasNow.com

Black Immigrant Daily News

Government Senate leader Owen Darrell has promised to give details of a visit to Bermuda last October by Bahamian Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis after the opposition asked if the hosts had incurred any costs.

Davis came to Bermuda as the guest of the ruling Progressive Labour Party, and spoke at the party’s annual delegates conference, telling Bermudians they had nothing to fear from becoming an independent nation.

Darrell, who is also the Minister of Youth, Culture, and Sport, fielded questions from opposition senator Douglas DeCouto, who asked whether the island had incurred “any costs by government protocol officers or things like that in conjunction with his visit”.

Darrell said the question would take technical officers more time than was allocated for the debate – but told the Senate “it will be addressed”.

He added: “Maybe not in this forum, but in another forum.”

DeCouto, speaking in the Upper House, also asked whether the government considered Davis’ trip to the island an official visit.

Owen Darrell said the questions would be answered “with entirety”.

Questioned at home on the financing of the visit, a spokeswoman for Davis, who has been prime minister since 2021, said last October that the trip was paid for by the ruling Progressive Liberal Party.

Davis was accompanied by several ministers, who discussed topics with local officials including transport, affordable housing, and climate change.

Davis said he was keen to forge closer ties with Bermuda in an attempt to boost the economies of both islands. Like Bermuda, international business and tourism are the main sources of revenue for the Bahamas.

Asked by the Royal Gazette newspaper what his message was to independence doubters here, Davis said: “There’s nothing to fear.

“Bermuda would still be part of a larger world. They will not be alone – they will still have friends and the whole world they can depend on because no country can go it alone in the world today. Even if they have independence, they still have the support of the world community.”

The Bahamas (population 410,00) will celebrate 50 years of independence from Britain this year.

But there has been no thirst for independence in Bermuda, an Overseas Territory with a population of around 64,000 since almost three-quarters of voters sided with the status quo and rejected cutting ties with Britain in a 1995 referendum promulgated by the now defunct United Bermuda Party.

NewsAmericasNow.com

Black Immigrant Daily News

By Dr Lorraine Sobers

There was greater Trinidad and Tobago presence at this year’s International Conference and Expo Guyana 2023, than in 2022. Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister, Dr. the Hon. Keith Rowley, was one of the four sitting national leaders delivering remarks at the opening ceremony. He was also on hand to officially open the Expo. Trinidad and Tobago Cabinet Minister, Stuart Young, Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries also participated in the conference on a regional collaboration panel alongside Dr. Thackwray Driver, CEO, Energy Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago. All three bore the same clear and direct message to Guyana: we want to work with you.

In this article I will expand on six statements from Prime Minister Rowley’s speech related to opportunities for collaboration between Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago in the context of Guyana’s Gas-to-Power Project.

“We have executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of Cooperative Republic of Guyana…in the field of Energy”

The MOU between Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago signed in May 2022 established a Bilateral Commission to facilitate cooperation. The Commission is charged with several tasks including “formulation of specific proposals for cooperation and collaboration between the two states in identified areas”. In the field of energy, specifically for gas-to-power, Trinidad and Tobago has a long and successful experience in gas production, building and maintaining gas pipeline networks, using natural gas for electricity generation, and developing a robust and reliable distribution network.

There is no shortage of trained engineers, technicians, and graduates of local education institutions to design, build, inspect and maintain power systems and the supporting technology for the natural gas industry. The MOU between Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago is the doorway for the collaborative, mutually beneficial projects for all aspects of converting natural gas to electric power.

“…investments in enabling infrastructure and technology can be costly even to the point of being prohibitive. Trinidad and Tobago has the energy infrastructure to monetize hydrocarbon resources produced by its Caribbean neighbours.”

There have been several suggestions on how Trinidad and Tobago’s physical infrastructure can be used by Caribbean neighbours. A pipeline from Guyana to Point Lisas, Trinidad, the hub of the nation’s petrochemical industry, or to Point Fortin, the location of the Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) trains have been contemplated by some commentators. However, the distance between the Stabroek Block and the location of the LNG plants in Point Fortin, Trinidad (approximately 400 km) gives reason to pause. For comparison, the proposed Liza Gas pipeline for the gas-to-power project is estimated to be 225 km from the offshore from Stabroek Block to shore. Another bold option, the dismantling and relocation of LNG trains from Point Fortin to Guyana, is hampered by the age of the trains. However, in the short to medium term the construction of a small LNG plant by Trinidad-based ICON LNG Guyana Inc. seems most plausible.

“Our current natural gas production averages 2.8 billion cubic feet (bcf) per day and we are still exploring the market for a user for the oil refinery…Trinidad and Tobago therefore provides a viable option for those countries that wish to optimize the monetization of their hydrocarbon resources without incurring substantial capital expenditure.”

At peak performance, Trinidad and Tobago’s petrochemical and industrial sector required four billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas per day as feedstock. Current gas supply falls more than 25% below processing capacity and below demand. In the meantime, Guyana’s natural gas supply is expected to be greater than current demand and as gas comes to shore, it can signal the beginning of a vibrant, possibly low carbon, petrochemical and industrial sector.

At present Guyana is exporting raw crude and importing refined crude oil products. Crude oil transportation to and refining in Trinidad is somewhat easier to envision than the gas supply-demand mismatch both countries face. However, significant investment will be needed to restart, refurbish and possibly reconfigure the oil refinery at Pointe-a-Pierre, Trinidad. Investors will have to compare the cost of a Pointe-a-Pierre purchase and overhaul and building a new refinery in Guyana. The technology, business and economics of oil refining has changed since the Pointe-a-Pierre refinery was built; investors are understandably, cautious.

“We are open to discussion with our other Caribbean neighbours on the monetization of their hydrocarbon resources in Trinidad and Tobago.”

Recently, there has been significant interaction between Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago leading up to the conference held in Guyana last month. In August 2022, Guyana President Dr. Irfaan Ali made a state visit to Trinidad and Tobago with the intention of holding bilateral talks on agriculture, energy and matters of mutual interest. Then in January this year President Ali was a feature speaker at Trinidad and Tobago’s Energy Chamber Conference. At the January conference, Minister Young made a case for regional collaboration stating that Trinidad and Tobago’s geographic and institutional position can leverage and fast track the development of natural gas resources in neighbouring countries — Grenada, Barbados, Guyana and Suriname — to meet regional needs.

“We also wish to assist you in developing programmes to meet the necessary training needs of your energy personnel.”

The University of Guyana and The University of the West Indies (UWI) have been working towards training 20,000 Guyana nationals between 2020 and 2025. I was delighted to deliver reservoir engineering courses through the Petroleum Studies Unit at UWI for Guyana nationals. This kind of opportunity and interaction between countries is a significant linkage in the chain that has maintained the connection across CARICOM nations. This is more than a concept to me, I have seen it work first hand, which is how I can agree wholeheartedly with Prime Minister Rowley’s statement:

“I am confident that the spirit of community, which has been key to our success as the oldest surviving integration movement in the developing world, will foster and augment the level of cooperation that can make the Caribbean an economic force in the region.”

_______________________________

Dr. Lorraine Sobers is a Fulbright Scholar currently lecturing at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine. Dr Sobers has a BS in Chemical Engineering and postgraduate degrees, MS and Ph.D., in Petroleum Engineering from Texas Tech and Imperial College, London respectively. She has 20 years’ experience in the energy sector specialising in Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). Dr. Sobers is the Project Coordinator for CO2 Emission Reduction Mobilisation (CERM) Project and a Fellow of the Caribbean Policy Consortium.

NewsAmericasNow.com