KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC—The Jamaican government says the bilateral aviation agreement signed with the Dominican Republic has fostered increased cultural exchange in tourism and commercial trade.
Science, Energy, Telecommunications, and Transport Minister Daryl Vaz told the second Dominican Republic-Jamaica Business Forum that the new initiatives are facilitating the creation of new business ventures and encouraging additional investments between both countries.
“I am very confident that we will witness the signing of a crucial Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) between the Airports Authority of the Dominican Republic and Jamaica, which is expected to strengthen bilateral ties further.
“The MOC represents a collaborative venture aimed at facilitating exchanges, offering advisory support, and arranging visits from airports in the Dominican Republic and Jamaica. Both countries will share best practices concerning airport management and core operations to develop their airports further,” Vaz added.
Vaz said he fully endorses the collaboration, noting that the Andrew Holness government recognizes aviation’s crucial role in the economy.
Vaz also disclosed that the Ministry has completed a new draft of the Jamaica National Energy Pl, the island’s energy sector.
“We’re also reviewing the other policies, such as renewable energy, bioenergy, carbon trading, nuclear energy, electricity, energy from waste, and energy efficiency and conservation policies, to place the country on track to achieve its goals and to support the Government’s energy agenda.”
Vaz told the forum on Thursday that Jamaica’s renewable energy capacity has grown impressively, citing the increasingly prominent role of solar and wind power in the energy mix.
He said the transition to clean energy is not just an environmental requirement but also an economic opportunity, noting that by investing in renewable energy, the country can reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, create jobs, and stimulate economic growth.
“The Electric Vehicle Policy, for example, is designed to promote the deployment of electric vehicles and contribute to the reduction of vehicle emissions, supporting the goals of energy efficiency and a cleaner environment,” Vaz said.
He said that by promoting the switch from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles by 2030, the government will target private motor-vehicle users, public transport fleet owners, and the Government of Jamaica’s fleet to make this crucially needed switch.
He said this is represented by the replenishment and modernization of the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) bus fleet through the integration of electric and natural gas vehicles.
“This is a step in the right direction for the future of transport, which is a connecting mode for every sector. The replacement of the older vehicles with compressed natural gas buses will not only aid the JUTC fleet but also reduce passengers’ discomfort and provide another step towards a more sustainable transport sector as we transition to clean energy in Jamaica and reduce our carbon footprint,” Vaz stated.
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