Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/431/REV.1 |
S-4§21 |
Barbados |
2022 |
Sectors |
General environmental reference |
Fisheries |
Relevant information
|
4.21. The Fisheries Division, under the Ministry of Environment and National Beautification, is the competent authority for managing and developing the fisheries sector. The Division is responsible for formulating policies for sectoral development, enforcing the Fisheries Act, 1993, Cap. 391, which is the main law governing the fishing industry, and preserving fisheries resources.
|
Keywords
|
|
|
Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/431/REV.1 |
S-4§22 |
Barbados |
2022 |
Sectors |
|
Fisheries |
Relevant information
|
4.22. New Fisheries Management Regulations were being drafted as at July 2022. The authorities indicate that the draft new Regulations aim to address the issues of endangered aquatic animal protection, such as for marine mammals and sea turtles, as well as other trade-related issues and to safeguard the market access of Barbadian fisheries exports.
|
Keywords
|
|
|
Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/431/REV.1 |
S-4§23 |
Barbados |
2022 |
Sectors |
|
Fisheries |
Relevant information
|
4.23. Local fisheries are currently open to nationals, with Barbadian citizens or permanent residents having access to the resources. As of end June 2022, there were 1,000 fishing vessels registered with the authorities, about 600 of which were operational. The authorities indicate that the current regulation does not provide effective control measures (e.g. fish licensing) against overfishing; the only means currently available to the authorities is the safety compliance inspection of fishing vessels. The authorities further indicate that the newly drafted regulations will rectify this shortcoming, by introducing activity licensing requirements, when they enter into force. In 2021, the Fisheries Division completed a fish stock assessment as a first step towards policy reform. According to the authorities, technical assistance may be needed for Barbados to continue its effort on fisheries policy reform.
|
Keywords
|
|
|
Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/431/REV.1 |
S-4§24 |
Barbados |
2022 |
Sectors |
Other environmental requirements, Other measures |
Fisheries |
Relevant information
|
4.24. Pursuant to the Fisheries Act, the Fisheries Division publishes the Fisheries Management Plan (FMP). According to the authorities, the FMP is drafted in close cooperation with other Caribbean Community (CARICOM) partners, following the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism. The current FMP was published in 2020. The authorities note that the FMP is not a legal instrument, but a policy instrument for fishery resource conservation.
|
Keywords
|
|
|
Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/431/REV.1 |
S-4§27 |
Barbados |
2022 |
Sectors |
Other measures |
Energy |
Relevant information
|
4.27. In 2019, Barbados adopted the Barbados National Energy Policy 2019 2030 (BNEP). The Policy sets out an ambitious target for the country to move away from fossil fuels to renewable energy, aiming at reaching 100% renewable energy and carbon neutrality by 2030.
|
Keywords
|
|
|
Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/431/REV.1 |
S-4§28 |
Barbados |
2022 |
Sectors |
Other measures |
Energy |
Relevant information
|
4.28. In order to achieve the target, the Government took measures to address issues on both energy demand and supply sides. On the demand side, the Government encouraged the adoption of energy efficiency technologies and the promotion of energy conservation. In this respect and with this purpose, the Control of Inefficient Lighting Act was assented by the then Governor General in July 2021. On the supply side, the Government is making plans to diversify the sources of energy, with an aim to increase supply from renewable energy. Reaching the target by 2030 may be a challenge, as just 2% of the energy consumed in the country came from renewable sources as of end 2018. As a step in this direction, the authorities note that an Integrated Resource and Resiliency Plan was submitted to the Cabinet for approval.
|
Keywords
|
Conservation
Energy
Renewable
|
|
Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/431/REV.1 |
S-4§30 |
Barbados |
2022 |
Sectors |
Other measures |
Energy |
Relevant information
|
4.30. With regard to power generation, the Barbados Light & Power Company Limited (BLPC) operates three power plants, and a number of power generating substations, with a total capacity of 252 MW. BLPC generates electricity using diesel, heavy fuel oil, and kerosene. Recently, BLPC installed a new photovoltaic (PV) plant with a capacity of 10 MW. The Barbados National Energy Policy 2019 2030 (BNEP) has set a target of having at least 35,000 buildings with rooftop or ground-mounted PV systems; the Government is also supportive of the development of bio energy (e.g. sugarcane) to generate baseload power.
|
Keywords
|
|
|
Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/431/REV.1 |
S-4§31 |
Barbados |
2022 |
Sectors |
|
Energy |
Relevant information
|
4.31. When the Electric Light and Power Act (ELPA) entered into force on 4 May 2015, the Barbados Light & Power Company Limited (BLPC) lost its monopoly in the electricity generation market. The ELPA liberalized the segment of power generation, and introduced a licensing regime for the supply of electricity from independent power producers (IPPs). (...) The authorities note that the liberalization of the power generation segment has facilitated the addition of 69 MW of renewable energy to be distributed on the grid. In FY2020/21, the Government, with the aim of encouraging the uptake of renewable energy, granted IPPs a special premium on top of the feed in tariff. According to the authorities, a total of 84 GW electricity was generated by renewable energy in 2021, accounting for 8% of the total electricity generation.
|
Keywords
|
|
|
Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/431/REV.1 |
S-4§35 |
Barbados |
2022 |
Sectors |
|
Energy |
Relevant information
|
4.35. With the aim of encouraging a reduction in the use of fossil fuels for automobiles, in the 2022 budget the Government provided fiscal incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid vehicles. These incentives include: (i) reduction of import duties on battery EVs and fuel cell EVs, and solar powered vehicles, regardless whether they are new or used; (ii) import duty reduction for vehicles powered by liquefied petroleum gas and compressed natural gas; (iii) reduction of excise tax for new fuel cell EVs; and (iv) a 24 month excise and VAT holiday for buying EVs (effective from 1 April 2022). In addition, in April 2021 the Government introduced a policy for governmental agencies and state owned entities to restrict the procurement of cars, sports utility vehicles, and light goods vehicles powered by fossil fuel.
|
Keywords
|
|
|
Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/431/REV.1 |
S-4§77 |
Barbados |
2022 |
Sectors |
Grants and direct payments, Loans and financing |
Services |
Relevant information
|
4.77. For the purposes of job protection and investment attraction against the devastation caused by the pandemic, the Government also developed the Barbados Employment and Sustainable Transformation (BEST) Programme. A total of BBD 300 million was pledged in the Programme for supporting the tourism sector; support was provided through grants or preferential share investment, with an aim of enhancing the cash flow of businesses so as to allow these businesses to continue hiring employees and transform their business model to adapt to the new reality.
|
Keywords
|
|
|