Until Sept. 16, Virgin Islands residents are invited to submit comments on the suitability of applicants for the Climate Change Trust Fund Board of Trustees.
Comments were invited last Thursday for a period of 30 days in keeping with the VI Climate Change Trust Fund Act, according to government.
At the close of the comment period on Sept. 16, board members will be selected and appointed by Deputy Premier Dr. Kedrick Pickering, the minister of natural resources and labour.
A total of 27 people have applied for membership on the board through a public process that ran from Feb. 11 to July 15, according to government.
“I am pleased with the number and calibre of persons who took up this noble challenge and have offered themselves to serve on this important board,” said NRL Permanent Secretary Ronald Smith-Berkeley. “The success of the trust fund rests heavily on the ability and commitment of its board, and I wish to thank all those participating in the process.”
Mr. Smith-Berkeley added that comments should be submitted in a hardcopy letter addressed to him or e-mailed to climatechangebvi@gov.vg.
The Climate Change Trust Fund is an independent fund dedicated to raising monies to help the territory adapt to the impacts of climate change and reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions by increasing energy efficiency and integrating alternative energy systems, according to government.
Following its appointment, the board will have executive control of the fund and make final decisions on all applications for funding.
In March 2015, the VI became the first Caribbean island to pass legislation establishing such a fund. The act came into force on Jan. 1, triggering various processes to get the trust operational, including establishment of its first board.
The board will be made up of nine people, including six representatives from the private sector and civil society, from which applicants and nominees were sought.
Climate Change Trust Fund board applicants
Monique Adams
Akilah Anderson
Susan Babson
Benedict Bamford
Eva Baskin
Colin Bramble
Shelly Bend
Edward Childs
Dominic Clyde-Smith
Dr. Karl Dawson
Rosemary Delaney-Smith
Stephanie Faulker Williams
Michael Fonseca
Karen Fraser
Shannon Gore
John Klein
Saskie Laing
Ronnie Lettsome
John Lewis
Charlotte McDevitt
Lionel Penn II
Douglas Riegels
Pauline Robinson
Nelson Samuel
Mitsy Simpson
Sarai Smith
Chezley Stoddard
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