The slow pace of developing and implementing updated regulatory frameworks remains a major obstacle to the Caribbean achieving its national energy goals, according to a press release from the Caribbean Electricity Utilities Corporation (CARILEC) .Dr. Cletus Bertin, Executive Director of CARILEC, highlighted this regulatory lag as a critical bottleneck during the organization’s 2026 Policy and Regulatory Roundtable, the release stated. Held on October 18th at the British Colonial Hotel in Nassau, The Bahamas, the roundtable convened senior energy-sector leaders, policymakers, regulators, and development partners to accelerate legislative reforms.
CARILEC noted that the event took place alongside the biennial 2026 CARILEC Resilient/Renewable Energy Community (CAREC) Conference & Exhibition. This year’s discussions centered around the theme, “From Policy Alignment to Regional Action: Enabling a Resilient, Affordable and Financially Viable Caribbean Energy Transition.”
In the release, Dr. Bertin emphasized that external pressures, such as volatile global fuel costs, compound the urgency for structural reform. He stated that overcoming the legislative standstill requires immediate, coordinated action.
“Addressing this challenge requires collaboration and a clear understanding of the roles and responsibilities of governments, regulators, utilities and other stakeholders,” Dr. Bertin said in the statement. “Through this Roundtable and other interventions, CARILEC brings stakeholders together to share best practices, strengthen collaboration and support regulatory reforms that reflect each country’s priorities and benefit the wider energy sector.”
According to the organization, the roundtable tackled a complex web of modern sector challenges. Delegates focused on balancing the competing interests of consumers, utilities, and Independent Power Producers (IPPs) while trying to maintain energy affordability, grid reliability, and financial viability during the shift to green energy.
Moving forward, CARILEC announced it will distribute the findings and actionable recommendations from the roundtable to stakeholders across the region. The release outlined plans to work directly with regional governments, utilities, and international development partners to build the legal frameworks necessary for a modern grid.
The ultimate objective, CARILEC stated, is to foster an energy transition that is not only technically and financially viable but also equitable and sustainable for citizens across the Caribbean.
Established in 1989 as a USAID-funded modernization project with just nine members, the association has grown to represent more than 120 energy solution providers and electricity industry stakeholders across the region.
