KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s energy sector is poised for a landmark conversation this June, as one of the world’s most successful clean energy transition trailblazers prepares to headline the sixth annual Maurice Facey Lecture, scheduled for June 10, 2026. The public event, set to kick off at 4:00 pm at the Jamaica Conference Centre, will center on the timely theme “Breaking the Grid: Charting Jamaica’s Path to Renewable Energy”, diving into the complex opportunities, obstacles and policy choices that will define the island nation’s clean energy future. Open to all attendees at no cost, the lecture arrives at a critical turning point for Jamaica’s energy ambitions. For decades, the country has grappled with an overreliance on imported fossil fuels, which currently supply nearly 88% of its total electricity generation. This dependence has left Jamaica exposed to volatile global fuel markets, pushed regional electricity prices to among the highest in the Caribbean, and exacerbated vulnerabilities to climate change that threaten the country’s power grid infrastructure. As a result, the push for energy independence has shifted from a long-term planning goal to an urgent national priority. To address these challenges, the Jamaican government has set an ambitious target to source 50% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. Industry and policy leaders broadly agree that hitting this target is a critical step to boost Jamaica’s international economic competitiveness, shore up long-term energy security, and bring much-needed relief from high energy costs for both households and businesses. To help the country navigate this transition, the 2026 lecture has drawn a keynote speaker with a proven track record of delivering transformative national energy reform: Dr. Ramón Méndez Galain, the internationally acclaimed energy transition expert who led Uruguay’s world-renowned shift to a nearly fully renewable electricity system. Dr. Méndez Galain’s work has earned global recognition, including a spot on Fortune magazine’s list of the 50 Greatest Leaders in the world, the 2023 Carnot Prize, and the 2025 Climate Breakthrough Award. His career in energy leadership began during his tenure as Uruguay’s national director of energy from 2008 to 2015, when he oversaw the country’s historic energy overhaul. When the transition was complete, 98% of Uruguay’s electricity came from renewable sources — with wind power accounting for roughly 40% of total generation — and the cost of producing electricity was cut by half. Today, Uruguay is held up as a global model for successful, affordable renewable energy adoption for small and medium-sized nations. Beyond his work leading Uruguay’s energy transition, Dr. Méndez Galain has served as Uruguay’s Secretary of Climate Change, where he played a central role in international negotiations for the Paris Climate Agreement. He has also held top roles at leading global climate and energy bodies, including Chairman of the Council of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and board member of the Green Climate Fund (GCF). Since March 2025, he has served as President of REN21, the global network focused on advancing renewable energy policy, and leads Fundación Ivy, a nonpartisan think tank that advises governments and private sector groups on scaling up renewable adoption and implementing sustainable development strategies. Stephen Facey, Chairman of the Pan Jamaica Group and the C.B. Facey Foundation, which co-host the annual lecture series, emphasized that the event’s mission has always been to connect Jamaican audiences with world-leading expertise to spark actionable conversation about the country’s future. “Ramón’s experience demonstrates that ambitious renewable energy transition is achievable, even for relatively small nations, and his insights will be invaluable as Jamaica charts its own path forward,” Facey said. The Maurice Facey Lecture Series was launched in 2019 to honor the legacy of the late Maurice Facey, OJ, JP, a pioneering figure in Kingston’s modern urban development and a lifelong advocate for transformative progress across Jamaica. Each year, the series invites globally respected thought leaders to examine pressing issues tied to Jamaica’s long-term national development, and has grown into a leading high-level platform that bridges global innovation and local policy dialogue. It regularly draws audiences of senior government officials, private sector chief executives, urban planners, academic researchers, and international development practitioners. Beyond the main public lecture, event organizers have planned a full week of supplementary activities designed to facilitate deep, direct engagement between Dr. Méndez Galain and Jamaica’s key energy sector stakeholders. “We have structured a series of surrounding events around the lecture week designed to facilitate direct, high-touch dialogues between Dr Méndez Galain and key local stakeholders, policymakers and industry practitioners,” explained Gayon Douglas, Executive Director of the C.B. Facey Foundation. “Our goal is to ensure that his profound global experiences can serve as a practical resource as local leadership continues to shape and implement Jamaica’s sustainable energy strategies.” The 2026 lecture is co-hosted by the Pan Jamaica Group and the C.B. Facey Foundation, two organizations with longstanding commitments to advancing inclusive national development across Jamaica. This year’s event is supported by a roster of sponsors including ROK Hotel, the Caribbean Policy Research Institute, the Urban Development Corporation, the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce, and the Jamaican Institute of Architects.