Senator Matthew Samuda Lauds JPS for Strides in Integrating Renewables into the National Grid

Kingston, Jamaica – May 24, 2023

Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, has lauded JPS’ efforts, and the investment it has made, to make the on boarding of renewables in the national grid, possible. Speaking at the signing ceremony for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between JPS and the National Environment & Planning Agency (NEPA), he said, “It’s a fact that’s not well understood, and not often widely discussed… [JPS’ investment] is why the government will be able to move to procure just under 200MW of renewable energy, which is a critical target for an island state like Jamaica.”  The Minister, made the point, in recognition of the fact that JPS and its Foundation have been working in diverse ways to protect the environment and support sustainable practices. 

The MOU signing, under NEPA’s Adopt-a-Mangrove initiative, is another milestone in JPS’ commitment to the environment.  The agreement confirms the upfront allocation of the majority of the $7M provision from JPS, to help protect the mangroves in the Palisadoes Sturridge Park section of the Kingston coastline.  This will be effected by restoring the mangroves and preventing harmful debris from entering the area, thereby protecting critical fish breeding grounds and supporting economic activity for fisher folk. 

Meanwhile JPS Deputy Foundation Chairman, Ramsay McDonald, who was on hand to participate in the signing, emphasized that the JPS Foundation is approaching the matter of environmental protection on many fronts, not only through protection programmes over the last 25 years, but also involvements in schools and public spaces.  Not least, he pointed out, is the JPS Foundation’s involvement in Project eDrive – a partnership between the JPS Foundation and the IDB Lab – which promotes the use of electric vehicles – a cleaner, greener, and cheaper transportation alternative.    

Gary Barrow, JPS’ Chief Operating Officer, also addressed the group, speaking to his own recollection of the beaches of Kingston, when they were beautiful, clear and unpolluted waters. “That is my vision,” he stressed, continuing, “so we have made a commitment at JPS, to not ony be conscious and play our part in environmental protection, but to actually lead… we want to set an example.”   Pointing to the root cause of the pollution, Mr. Barrow noted that it was not enough to simply try to prevent waste that is dumped in gullies from reaching the sea, but more importantly – to change the behaviour of those that perpetrate these acts, and to build a culture of environmental protection. This he posited, can be done through the education system, including studies at the tertiary level – a move that is being presently discussed. 

Peter Knight, Chief Executive Officer of NEPA, in his remarks, thanked JPS for coming on board, as the first Corporate entity to join the Adopt a Mangrove initiative.  The funds, he assured, would make a significant difference in sustaining mangroves, which have suffered significant depletion over the past several years.  Mangroves, known as ‘the lungs of the earth’ play a significant role in extracting carbon dioxide from the air and adding clean oxygen, vital for life on the planet.