Dennis Minott | EK Powell’s wisdom: millionaire birds with ‘dotish’ energy dreams

Growing up in Bound Brook, greater Port Antonio, my life was steeped in energy — quite literally. Whether it was marveling at the roaring Bedford truck engines with my Maylor-grandfather or touching and getting greasy with the 40-hertz generator prime mover sets being repaired at the nearby JPS power station under the watchful eye of my perceptive godfather, Mr Pottinger, I developed a lifelong fascination for energy systems.

This passion only deepened with the firm foundation in physics that Mrs Edith Whitwell, the legendary England-born Kingston College (KC) teacher, instilled in me. By the time I entered university as a teenager, I was already fluent in the language of engines and electro-mechanics. “Tangye, the one-cylinder diesel” in the Mech E Lab was a piece of cake to me. So were most other labs. I was, initially, too impatient and unfocused with mathematical theory.

This grounding would prove invaluable years later as I stood in a New Kingston parking lot opposite “Mr Avian Name,” a man whose polished charm belied his peculiar background and questionable energy proposals.

It was shortly after Edward Seaga became prime minister. I was newly appointed as head of renewable energy at the Scientific Research Council (SRC) when Minister Alva Ross invited me to an unusual meeting. The guest of honour was a Jamaican millionaire with an avian-sounding name — something like dove, partridge, or quail – no, not duck. Mr Avian Name had an ambitious pitch: to reconfigure Jamaica’s energy grid with high-speed diesel (HSD) machines. Despite his confident demeanour and connections, there were whispers of his unorthodox career trajectory. Dr Ventura, my wise boss at the SRC, advised a background check through a KC old-boy network in Atlanta.

UNCONVENTIONAL

What emerged was a profile as unconventional as his pitch. Mr Avian Name’s journey began as a military mortuary specialist at Fort Bragg during the Vietnam War. Post-military, he transitioned to civilian mortuary services in the US before striking it rich selling French colognes out of his car in rural Georgia. Now, he claimed expertise in energy systems, armed with connections to high-ranking politicians and Ronald Reagan’s (Ronnie’s to him) Republican inner circle.

When I arrived at the meeting — late, regrettably — the air was thick with tension. Minister E. K. Powell, the brilliant yet pragmatic former chief engineer of T&TEC (Trinidad &Tobago Electricity Commission), stood in the ICWI parking lot with Mr Avian Name and his (EK’s) principal director. Mr Avian Name cut an impressive figure in his tailored waistcoat, greying sideburns neatly trimmed, his Mexican Aztec Calendar Stone-embossed briefcase held by an impeccably dressed blonde assistant. As we strolled to his rented car, he launched afresh into his pitch with evangelistic fervour.

According to him, high-speed diesel machines were Jamaica’s ticket to the “new global energy boy’s elite”. His presentation was peppered with phrases designed to dazzle: “future-proof,” “quick start-up,” “compact efficiency”. He made sure to mention his “private audience with Eddie”, our PM, and “recent talks with Ronnie’s people” in the US. While his delivery was polished, the content was thin, tailored more to impress politicians than to provide technical substance.

After twenty minutes, Mr Avian Name departed, leaving behind a cloud of cologne and scepticism. The principal director turned to me, his disdain barely concealed. “Dr Minott, you’re just a physicist. What can you contribute here? Why is SRC even involved?”

Before I could respond, Minister Powell intervened with the gravitas that only decades of experience can lend. “Mr Director,” he said, “I should have introduced you to Dr Minott months ago. When I was at T&TEC, Professor Ken Julien — a man whose opinion I trust — highly recommended him. He’s one of our region’s first two OAS Research Fellows in electrical engineering.”

Minister Powell then turned to me. “Dr Minott, what did you bring us?”

I handed him the yellow SRC folder containing my detailed analysis of HSD versus low-speed diesel (LSD) options for Jamaica. My findings were clear: while HSD had its merits for specific-use cases, LSD offered better cost efficiency, durability, and compatibility with Jamaica’s energy needs (then). Minister Powell listened carefully, nodding in agreement as I outlined the pros and cons.

LESSONS FROM POWELL’S PRAGMATISM

Minister Powell’s response to Mr Avian Name’s pitch was a master class in leadership and discernment. “Dennis,” he later told me, “any well-dressed millionaire can sell you dreams, especially if they drop names and approach the PM first. But as I learned at T&TEC, never let millionaire birds make nests on your head.” His wisdom resonated deeply, particularly as the years revealed more about Mr Avian Name’s dubious motivations.

Ultimately, the Jamaica Public Service (JPS), under the capable leadership of Mr Derrick Fenton Dyer, chose a path informed by sound technical advice rather than flashy sales pitches. General Electric’s input reinforced our recommendation for low-speed diesel, ensuring a sound, cost-effective 1980s energy future for Jamaica. Months later, the principal director, who earlier, had blasted my role, approached me in a Portmore supermarket. I had gone into successful international private energy consulting after less than two years at the SRC. With genuine regret, he apologised for his earlier remarks. Minister Powell’s steadfast leadership had left an impression on us all.

This experience serves as a cautionary tale for today’s decision-makers grappling with the allure of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). Much like Mr Avian Name, modern SMR promoters often come evangelising armed with glossy presentations and grandiose promises. They emphasise cutting-edge technology, quick-deployment timelines, and environmental benefits. Yet beneath the surface lies a web of financial incentives, insider deals, and unproven technology.

Promoters often falsely position SMRs as “clean energy” solutions while lobbying for subsidies and long-term service contracts or MoUs. They profit regardless of the reactors’ performance, leaving countries burdened with high costs and unfulfilled promises. Minister Powell’s wisdom — and my own research — highlight the importance of scrutinising such proposals with a critical eye.

Countries like Austria, New Zealand, Denmark, and Costa Rica have thrived by prioritising renewable energy over nuclear solutions. Jamaica, with its abundant solar, wind, and other green renewables can do the same. The lessons from the early 1980s remain relevant: trust local expertise, prioritise long-term sustainability, and be wary of salesmen bearing gilded promises.

As for Mr Avian Name, his story took an unexpected turn. Years after our encounter, I met his widow during A-QuEST business in western Jamaica. Divorced before his untimely demise in a Louisiana liquor saloon altercation with two (trans) sex workers, she shared tales of his colourful life. His charm had opened many doors, but his legacy was one of unfulfilled potential.

Minister Powell’s pragmatism ensured that Jamaica avoided a costly mistake in the 1980s. Today’s leaders would do well to heed his example. Energy policy demands not just vision but also grounded expertise and a commitment to the nation’s best interests. Let us remain vigilant, ensuring that Jamaica’s energy future is shaped by informed choices rather than the fleeting allure of “avian”, fly-by-night schemes and artificial, hurriedly cobbled-together technical/scientific ecosystems of unqualified billionairing tadpoles and quacking opportunists.

Dennis Minott, PhD, is the CEO of A-QuEST-FAIR. He is a multilingual green resources specialist, a research physicist, and a modest mathematician who worked in the oil and energy sector. Send feedback to a_quest57@yahoo.com or columns@gleanerjm.com.