111 The Mottley administration has opened a new offshore licensing drive, offering 19 ultra-deepwater blocks to international energy companies while insisting that bidders meet strengthened climate and environmental standards. The 2026 Offshore Petroleum Direct Negotiations opens a three-month window for proposals to explore for oil and natural gas in the island’s offshore waters. Acting Prime Minister Kerrie Symmonds, minister of energy, business development and commerce, announced on Tuesday that the pre-qualification period which opened on Monday will run until  September 1. The government is offering 19 offshore blocks as it seeks qualified partners to undertake exploration activities in Barbados’ ultra-deep waters, he said. This is part of government efforts to align offshore oil and gas development with Barbados’ renewable energy and climate commitments, Symmonds told a press conference in the ministry’s conference room. “So we want to have companies that are partnering with us that have proven over their recent...