Minister of Energy Kerrie Symmonds has accused critics of Government’s approach to expanding the renewable energy sector and amendments to electricity legislation of trying to stir up strife and engaging in “a whole lot of hullabaloo” and “partisan rancour”.
While he did not call names, his comments were a clear swipe at the President of the Barbados Association of Professional Engineers (BAPE) Lieutenant Colonel Trevor Browne, attorney-at-law and utility regulation specialist Tricia Watson, and leader of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) Dr Ronnie Yearwood who have publicly knocked the legislative and other changes.
Symmonds did not mince words as he chided the critics for not having the interest of the country at heart, in their analysis.
Speaking in the House of Assembly on Friday, he argued that their criticisms of the Bill and the expansion of the renewable energy sector have been nothing more than “unnecessary posturing” and “political partisan rancour”.
“I feel it is my duty, not only on behalf of the Government but the country as a whole, to come to this place and from the very start try to give some context to what has really been a lot of irrational babbling with respect to what is taking place in this House today, and the Electric Light and Power Act and the amendment made to the Act,” said Symmonds, as he led off debate on the Electric Light and Power (Amendment) Bill.
Stressing that he did not intend to get into any back and forth with…
