Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Anthony Hylton - file photo. See more images...
Debbie-Ann Wright, News Editor The Gleaner/Power 106 News Centre
A decision has been taken to reopen discussions for the supply of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) from Trinidad and Tobago to Jamaica.
The decision resulted from discussions between Jamaica’s commerce minister, Anthony Hylton and Trinidad’s energy minister Kevin Ramnarine.
The public announcement of the re-opening LNG talks came at yesterday’s official opening of the Trade and Investment Convention in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad.
The government ministers have agreed to re-examine the previously signed Memorandum of Understanding between the Patrick Manning administration and Jamaica, to supply a constrained volume of Jamaica’s LNG requirements.
Ramnarine said energy security is an important pillar of any economy, as he acknowledged that the average price of energy in Jamaica, was 10 times the price in Trinidad and Tobago.
Energy has been an issue of deep concern in Jamaica’s productive sector and is at the heart of recent calls for Jamaica’s withdrawal from CARICOM.
The latest discussions form part of an ongoing effort to re-balance Jamaica’s trade relationship with Trinidad and bring it in line with the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.
Meanwhile, Hylton has extended an invitation to Ramnarine to visit Jamaica to continue discussions with Energy Minister Phillip Paulwell and himself on the issues related to the supply of LNG.
Hylton left Jamaica on Sunday, to attend events being held in Trinidad under the banner of Caribbean Investment Week.
