The Dominica Hotel and Tourism Association (DHTA) has said it fully supports government’s drive to explore and develop the island’s geothermal potential.
However, it says it holds the government responsible “in terms of how it is going to be done” so that all negative impacts are mitigated.
“I would like to congratulate the government of Dominica for what I think is a very good initiative,” DHTA member and environmental consultant, Marie-Jose Edwards, told a panel discussion on Wednesday evening. “It requires a lot of action and input and the fact that they are going down that road is something that is really good for Dominica.”
She warned that there are environmental impacts to such projects and “those impacts can be mitigated if you have the right information and you are willing to take monitoring activities.”
She said the geothermal project is a good for Dominica because of the negative impacts related to imported fossil fuels, volatile oil prices and high electricity rates, among other.
Edwards pointed out that with geothermal the island will experience reduced electricity rates, reduced fossil fuel impacts and reduced emissions. “And that is good for Dominica and its image as the Nature Island of the Caribbean,” Edwards said.
“So I am saying it is a good thing…it has to be done properly and we hold the government responsible in terms of how it is going to be done,” she remarked.
The panel discussion/fund raiser was organized by the DHTA and held under the theme “Economic and Environmental Impacts of Geothermal Development in Dominica.”
This article gives a bit of an inaccurate impression in it’s introductory line.
There has been no position taken by the Board or consensus position taken by the Membership of the Dominica Hotel & Tourism Association as a whole, other than that we are in support of efforts to reduce energy costs and to move towards renewable energy sources. Renewable energy sources INCLUDE but are not limited to geothermal sources.
The Board of the DHTA insists that any such development should be with honest advance consultation with stakeholders in the communities, and in the tourism industry, and that due consideration must be given to the environmental impacts and other considerations that would affect national development.
I wonder if this represents the DHTA or was it simply said by Mrs Edwards at a DHTA event? This should be clarified as there has been no press release from the DHTA or even a polling of their members as far as I know.
Also there is a huge capital outlay to get this off the ground and the electricity distribution will still have to go through Domlecs distribution lines. So do you really think that Domlecs will make a huge reduction in fees? Check their profit every year and get back to me on that.
I did not expect that fro the DHTA. They will loose a lot more than they think. It is not only about paying 5 cents less on your elecricity bills. You all are thinking of your hotels and businesses only. How will you fill the rooms when people do not come to the Island. That will decrease tourism significantly. Please DHTA think harder and longer about that, what you all are supporting now might come back and stab you in the back.
Can you explain why would geothermal prevent tourists from coming to Dominica ?
Lowering the bills is the small benefit of the Geothermal project. It is however a major reduction expected.
Significantly increasing the island’s revenue is the main benefit.
I can understand concerns about the Geothermal project. They need to be raised and dealt with. But such negativity ? Why ? Geothermal is not a politic move. It will benefit the country’s finances AND will decrease the price of electricity in Dominica. How can you be so much against ? I would really like to understand.
All you can jump high or low…this thing must and will be BANNED…..such a “waste” of money and resources…not to mention the potential massive ecological damage…doh cry Nature Isle, there are those of us who love you and are coming to your rescue…
The notion of geothermal reducing electricity rates is highly desirable and as such it SHOULD reduce electricity rates. We all want to see rates come down, but to categorically say that it WILL is being naive and oblivious to the fact that the economic greed of profit making by man sometimes outweighs the social good of providing a service. Why did the french pull-out…
“I would like to congratulate the government of Dominica for what I think is a very good initiative,” Is this the view of the DHTA or is this the sole view of Marie-Jose Edwards. Again we have to be so meticulous in the things that we say when we representing organizations. Was it the intention to say that “WE at the DHTA would like to congratulate the government of Dominica for what WE think is a very good initiative” and that statement in itself is also not that accurate.. Is it that we think, we believe or WE KNOW its a good initiative.
What is Marie Jose-Edwards saying? Who is going to hold the gov’t responsible for pursuing this development in an environmentally sound manner? DO we have an environmental economist on staff to evaluate the real cost of this project? I think as of now we are biting more than we can chew on this project – just look at the planning, it has been a disaster so far. I also can’t imagine that Marie is thinking of the 130 MW power plant dream that the Gov’t is proposing – it would have to be the 10 – 15 MW power plant.
So just countinue to be negative….you have not offered any thing of substance, so how can we really take your seriously.
The huge capital costs of this project will ensure that there will be no reduction in unit costs to the Dominican consumer.
Stop hating our country.
Fair and very balanced I will add