Ironically, Prime Minister Andrew Holness revived his case for Jamaica’s embrace of nuclear power just as Ramon Méndez Galain, the architect of the South American country’s initiative, argued that the island could replicate Uruguay’s almost wholesale transition to renewables - a move that slashed energy costs and created tens of thousands of jobs.

The timing of Dr Holness’ reassertion of his government’s intentions on nuclear power - the deployment of the still experimental and expensive small, modular nuclear reactors (SMNRs) – was, no doubt, coincidental. But the development is a reminder that three years on, the Government is still to launch the proposed robust discussion on the economics and safety of SMNRs

Those conversations must begin now! The Government should, perhaps, create a public-facing nuclear energy task force and institute parallel hearings by a special joint parliamentary committee on nuclear power.  Domestic and international nuclear scientists, energy economists, and grid specialists must be fully engaged in this process.