The search for cleaner, safer, cheaper, more reliable sources of energy, and better ways to use it, unites countries like Jamaica all around the world, large and small, rich and poor. Energy is the critical issue of our time, especially within the context of the present climate-change talks now taking place in Copenhagen, Denmark.

It is within this context I would encourage all Jamaicans to buy into the National Energy Policy 2009-2030, which, by the time this letter is read, will be a white paper in Parliament.

The policy balances issues relating to energy demand and supply, energy security, safety, conservation and development of renewable energy technologies. Through this policy, Jamaica can help to lead the Caribbean and other small-island developing states in the world to aggressively change dependence on petroleum.

I take this opportunity to congratulate Minister James Robertson and his team at the Ministry of Energy and Mining for facilitating the quick and efficient output of this important policy document.

However, more importantly, the people of Jamaica must buy into this important policy or else it will just be another printed document to be shelved and forgotten.

I am, etc.,

Dr. Charles Demontaque, Phd

Stafford University

United Kingdom

charlesdemontaque@yahoo.co.uk