Statement by
Ambassador M. Patricia Durrant,
Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the United Nations
to the Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly on
Agenda Item 158: World Solar Programme 1996-2005, 1998 October 15.

Mr. President,

Jamaica takes the floor on agenda item 158 to endorse the World Solar Programme 1996-2005, as detailed in document A/53/395.

As a member of the World Solar Commission, Jamaica has actively participated in the preparatory process which has resulted in the definition of the programme which we now have before us.

I take this opportunity to convey Jamaica's appreciation to the Chairman of the Commission, H.E. Robert Mugabe, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe for his effective and inspired leadership of our work since Harare in 1996. May I also express Jamaica's appreciation to UNESCO for its significant contribution to the preparatory process, particularly through its co-sponsorship of the intergovernmental consultative workshops which facilitated the substantive involvement of the member states of the Commission.

The World Solar Programme offers a dynamic framework for the promotion of widespread use of solar and other renewable energy sources on a global scale. We reiterate the view of the Commission that this programme represents a concrete follow-up to the recommendations of the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development regarding the use of energy sources for sustainable development. The programme was also formally adopted within the framework of the programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 at the Nineteenth Special Session of the General Assembly in June 1997 (Rio-5).

A developing nation with a fragile island ecosystem, Jamaica has increasingly incorporated within its overall sustainable development strategy a sustainable energy policy, acknowledging the integral role which energy must play in fuelling development.

We use this opportunity to emphasise that diversification of Jamaica's energy base remains a central goal of our energy policy and part of the wider strategy for sustainable energy use. Within this wider strategy, special attention has been given the development of solar energy, with a view to assessing its viability as a valid alternative energy source for the medium and long term.

Jamaica pursues a very active programme for the development of solar energy use in Jamaica which includes:

- expanded use of solar water heaters for both domestic and industrial use, with a view to eventual reduction of dependence on expensive fossil fuels;

- use of solar technology in industry such as in the solar crop drying process, which may be used in the processing of vegetables, timber and fruit. Such projects expand industry and employment opportunities in rural, agricultural areas;

- the introduction of solar lighting or photovoltaic systems for rural electrification programmes. This is a particularly important effort, which will facilitate the electrification of remote villages where servicing with traditional electric power lines has proven impossible.

Projects in wind generated and hydro energy are also being pursued in Jamaica.

Jamaica fully endorses Commitments and Bases for Action articulated in the World Solar Programme. We are committed to ensuring access by our entire population to viable, renewable energy sources. We endorse in particular effort to accord priority attention to attracting private capital investment in the development of solar and other alternative energy systems. We are committed to the effort to accelerate rural development through the harnessing of renewable energy sources, and we strongly support the call for investment in research and development in renewable energy sources, and for training in the application and maintenance of these technologies, with emphasis on community involvement.

We wish to underscore the need for technical assistance and financing for renewable energy initiatives. We therefore call on the international donor community to support in particular the global, regional and national renewable energy projects listed within the World Solar Programme. These have been identified by governments as deserving highest priority for implementation.

Mr. President, Jamaica offers its unreserved support for this initiative, and accordingly has joined the co-sponsors of the draft resolution before us for consideration. We strongly recommend that the programme be endorsed by this Assembly.

[Back] [Home] [Forward]