While we await government's long-promised energy policy, we note with interest that Minister Theodore Heyliger, who is responsible for energy and for the local power and water utility company GEBE NV, is taking a lead role on the island in harnessing the power of the wind, according to the author of a letter published in Friday's issue of this newspaper.

We can only surmise that Minister Heyliger has become so fed up and so disenchanted with what's happening at and with GEBE, and with the financial burden he and the rest of the public must bear so that the publicly-owned company can record a hefty profit every year, that he has decided to become an independent producer of power and thereby slash his energy cost.

We agree with our letter writer and join with him in applauding Minister Heyliger for putting up his wind turbine – for his "forward, modern thinking" – for indeed, "wind-power is a great idea and we are all for clean energy."

Of course, in addition to slashing his energy cost, Minister Heyliger also will be making a meaningful contribution to the global thrust to minimise carbon emissions and make the environment cleaner and safer.

But even as we applaud the honourable minister, we wonder whether given the history of wind power generation in St. Maarten, GEBE has a view about and is supportive of his foray into the field of power generation.

We also wonder whether GEBE would be willing to buy, at a reasonable rate, any excess power that Minister Heyliger might generate at his Guana Bay hilltop property.

And, indeed, given that there is a lot of wind (read: hot air) out there and that under the law all persons ought to be treated fairly and equally, does this mean that any or all enterprising persons can now become involved in harnessing the wind and selling their excess power to GEBE, thereby making it less dependent on fossil fuels and so that it may finally dispense with its dreaded fuel clause?