SANDALS Resorts Group Chief Executive Officer Gebhard Rainer is proposing more regional partnerships between governments and the private sector as the key to increasing growth, optimising investment and capital expenditure in the Caribbean.

Rainer’s comments come as he prepares for the 15th Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum in Miami, Florida from April 26-28, where he will be a panellist.

“Sandals recognises the impact of climate change on our local economies, and as a business leader in the Caribbean we have incorporated environmental, social, and governance (ESG) programmes throughout our company, playing our part through initiatives such as smart infrastructure and sustainable processes,” said Rainer, who also addressed the issue at the second Caribbean ESG and Climate Financing Summit in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, last November.

“This is not an inexpensive undertaking and we have invested millions of dollars in infrastructure to ensure that our carbon footprint is as low as possible,” Rainer said, pointing out that the investment includes solar water heaters, treatment plants at each location which ensure water can be treated and recycled for irrigation, and removing all plastic straws from the group’s resorts as Sandals is on a path to eliminate single-use plastics.

“Even now, as we seek to integrate more renewable energy programmes across our resorts, if there is not a robust legislative infrastructure, particularly for subsidies, in place the energy problem will invariably evolve into an energy crisis,” he said, adding “We must coordinate our efforts into a regional policy that focuses on both advocacy and legislation as we prepare for further effects of this global phenomenon.”

At the upcoming conference in Miami, Rainer will be among a panel of Caribbean CEOs discussing the effects of distributed electricity-generation technologies, ESG implementation, regulatory and legal interventions, as well as productivity and competitive advantages.

He pointed out that Sandals is focused on a green future at all times and is ensuring that sustainable environmental practices are reflected in all its new projects.

“But, like most companies, we do not exist in a vacuum. Many of the islands we operate in, for example, do not have the legislation or the infrastructure to support widescale recycling and conservation efforts,” he said.

Rainer is also advocating greater education on the issue of prevention. He highlighted the work of the resort chain’s philanthropic arm, Sandals Foundation, as a key waste recycling advocate in the region, extending its efforts to educational campaigns.

“Over 95 per cent of our team members are from the communities in which we operate and they, in turn, transfer such knowledge into actions in their own communities,” Rainer added.

Highlighting one of Sandals Foundation’s recent programmes, Rainer said, “In Curaçao, through a local partnership, discarded fishing nets are being recycled to make football goals for local schools. These are some of the simple yet effective ways we are looking to engage communities in safeguarding our future.”

Among the CEOs joining Rainer in the panel discussion will be Anthony Ali, CEO, Goddard Enterprises Limited; and Ralph S Williams, CEO, Williams Industries Inc. The discussion will be moderated by Anaitee Mills, chair of Jamaica Energy Resilience Alliance and climate finance advisor in the Office of the Prime Minister.

Sandals Resorts International, which has been a regional voice on climate change preparedness, continues to be recognised by EarthCheck, regarded as the world’s leading certification, consulting and advisory group for sustainable destinations and tourism organisations.