Last Updated on January 20, 2025, 1:34 PM AST by Anthony Morris
Basseterre, St. Kitts: Taking positive steps to create a greener future, the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has launched a special training program for the workforce which is equipped in providing maintenance for electric vehicles.
Sharing this information through his social media account, Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew said that it was a matter of pride for the twin island nation that an electric vehicle maintenance certification course which has been facilitated by Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College was being launched.
He said that this was a step forward towards a sustainable future in which electric vehicles have an important role to play. He said that the number of EVs was rapidly growing and there was an urgent requirement of technicians who can provide maintenance of these vehicles. Keeping this in mind the certification course has been started.
The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis had earlier last year launched an EV maintenance certification course under its Caribbean Centre of Excellence in Research, Innovation and Workforce Training (CRIWT) project. The government had collaborated with the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC) and GSI. This project was funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme.
The Prime Minister said that the certification course will not only prepare the workforce which is required to attend to the electric vehicles, it will also create new job avenues for the youth of St. Kitts and Nevis.
Besides, it will also help in a smooth transition from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles in St. Kitts and Nevis.
Prime Minister said that this will prepare of workforce in St. Kitts and Nevis which are future ready. He said that with the rising number of electric vehicles this is one of the most sought after skills across the globe.
Individuals undergoing the certification course will not only be able to provide service to the electric vehicles available within the country, but they will also be eligible to seek job opportunities in other countries also.
The Prime Minister said that the nation was rapidly moving towards a greener future and for a quick adoption of the electric vehicles it was important that a trained workforce was already available in the country which could provide repair and maintenance for the electric vehicles.
He said that the government was also contemplating introducing various other plans to encourage the citizens to take up electric vehicles and give up on internal combustion engines which cause much pollution.
St. Kitts and Nevis has even adopted a Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), submitted in 2021, under which the nation has set targets of reducing greenhouse gases by adopting electric vehicles.
The Prime Minister said that availability of a trained workforce was one of the major areas of concern for quick adoption of electric vehicles by the citizens of St. Kitts and Nevis. He said that by providing specialized training to the workforce, the government was trying to remove this barrier so that the nation can transit to electric vehicles as early as possible.
The Prime Minister said that by promoting the use of electric vehicles the country was also working to promote renewable energy to bring down the cost of power and to ensure sustainable growth while protecting the environment.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
