Hello,

I was in Barbados in April 2017 with children from Seattle, Washington (US) to do a cultural exchange. Our students learned maypole and other dances. Our students presented tap dancing. It was my and my families first time to Barbados. I was very captivated by Barbados. So much so, I have been inquiring how to move my family there. In June 2018, I was in Barbados, establishing an International Business Company. I used a Barbadian Business to establish my presence. A friend and business partner from Seattle is Bajan. His mother just returned back to the island. On both my trips I stayed not only in the hotels (Accra/South Beach) but at his mum’s house in Merrick.

On my last visit…I asked everyone about the elections…and the responses were varied…but very supportive of the new government. I also asked everyone what they felt Barbados needed in order to change for the better to get local perspectives. I also looked at what I feel would be good things to look into as a person from abroad…looking at Barbados as a destination for tourism.

My background is that I am a retired Army officer. I was in the US Army as a Major from 1987 - 2007. I had two specialties. My first specialty was logistics. I was an Transportation Officer and was specialized in moving anything, anywhere by all modes of travel (Land, Sea, Air, Rail). My secondary specialty was operations research. I analyzed all problems and solved them mathematically. I am currently a test officer for Department of Homeland Security. I write the test plans and test the equipment in the field at all of the airports for Transportation Security Administration. I am telling you my background to give you an idea of my perspective on some of the ideas and solutions, I have come to consider.

First of, let me say congratulations to your Minister of Information, Broadcasting and Public Affairs, for brilliantly putting together the idea of allowing Bajans not only a voice…but a way to provide input and ideas to the government. The people most affected by an issue are always most accurate in determining a solution that will work for them and others. The governments role is to weigh the risk and consequences of the solutions in a way best for all…and not just some. It is because of this Minister’s approach that I knew of the opportunity to provide my inputs.

Key Areas of Focus:

Transportation (Foreign Commerce)

• Marine
• Air
• Ground

Transportation (Domestic)

• Commercial Vehicles
• Trucks, Construction, Farm Equipment, Delivery, Taxi
• Personal Vehicles
• Family vehicles

THE IDEA

• Eliminate vehicle import tariff for all electric vehicles only (not hybrid or alternative fuels…pure electric vehicles - EV only) for 2 years. Encourage use of all electric vehicle use in private sector (because individual people have more cars than the government). Majority of personal travel is probably less than 70 km/day. All electric EV is most efficient at those ranges. Can go all day on 1 overnight charge at residence.

• Dealers can import all electric vehicles with no import tariff but can only sell to private citizens for no more than 10% of dealer cost.

• Benefits include: Supporting any CARICOM/Barbados Plans to remove fossil fuel usage to 0% by 2030. To reduce carbon emissions, noise and unhealthy air. To reduce usage on petrol and other fossil fuels. To lower cost of maintenance of vehicles (no oil/coolant changes). Saves private citizen money in purchase and encourages more utilization. Reduce/eliminate need to dispose used oil and fuels which pollute the environment

• Offer incentives to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM -Nissan, Suzuki, BMW, etc) to provide vehicles at cost to dealerships for inclusion in program.

• Offer purchase program for taxi’s. Provide a standard trade in value for taxi/or personal car to obtain new EV. Offer credit/financing to new buyers of vehicles (this credit/financing can be accommodated by OEM).

• Export all trade-ins off the island!

• Create Chademo (30 minute fully recharge) stations along main roads. Three to four charging stations in City area’s and two to three stations in rural areas. Stations increased by level of EV ownership per parish

• Develop survey to determine, who wants to participate, what kind of vehicle they own now, they willing to trade in for EV, how many KM’s they be driving, how far do they go when they driving (average), how often they drive their car…?

THE GOAL

To reduce the use of fossil fuel and to get “junk”or less safe vehicles from the roads of Barbados as much as possible and to be a leader in Green Energy and Green Technology.

To bring Green Technology manufacturing from auto industry and other industries to Barbados in the form of job training and education. If an OEM invests in Barbados by providing electric vehicles…then it must invest in teaching the population how to work on the newest technology.

I have several more ideas…but I wanted to use this first email as a means to create a line of communication. I will await a response and/or a request for further dialogue.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Dennis Comer