‘What is being done?’

THE QUESTION could not have been more pointed.

At a recording of the BBC’s World Questions programme on Wednesday, Minister of Energy Stuart Young was in usual form, repeating the Government’s spiel about the role of the oil and gas industry in the economy while simultaneously trying to burnish green credentials.

“Let us thank God we have an oil and gas economy,” Mr Young told the audience present for the show, which will be broadcast today. “At the same time, the Government is the front leader in the whole of the Caricom region in implementing renewable energy.”

Not only did the minister compare TT to countries in the region, but also to “developed countries in Europe” who have rushed to restart coal plants in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He was in the process of lecturing about people being used to putting on light switches when they get home when he was interrupted by the moderator of the event, BBC royal correspondent Jonny Dymond.

“Minister, what is being done?”

The Government wants the country to be on board with its approach of not wishing to anger the oil and gas giants, while seeking praise for a range of projects and initiatives that advance a green agenda.

The energy sector, while clearly still very influential in the highest reaches of governance, ostensibly accounts for around 34.9 per cent of the country’s GDP.

But there are gaps in the story repeatedly told by our statesmen on this issue.

There is not enough discussion about measuring our carbon footprint.

Nor is there enough acknowledgement of the fact that major projects such as the much-heralded 112 megawatt solar project in Golden Grove, Arouca, have been affected by costly delays.

The goal of 30 per cent of electricity being generated from renewable sources by 2030, some would say, is also far too conservative.

While coal has seemingly made a rebound in some European nations, solar energy for the first time in history overtook coal in terms of electricity generation, according to reports this week.

Meanwhile, the government has placed its own faith in the Dragon Gas deal with Venezuela and is expending much diplomatic capital in relation to it, including through talks involving Mr Young, the Prime Minister and US officials given sanctions that are in place.

The public perception is, as a result, the notion of being asked to worship at the altar of petrochemical industry expedience at precisely the moment when the Government, which leads a vulnerable small island nation, should be more vocal about its efforts to secure funding for the energy transition and to bring about climate justice.

On the latter, it is well worth asking what exactly is being done.