NASSAU, Bahamas (CMC):

The Organisation of American States has warned the Caribbean to take urgent action to prevent the current global energy crisis from reversing the region's development.

Assistant Secretary General Ambassador Albert Ramdin issued the caution on Wednesday at the Caribbean regional sustainable energy high-level seminar here, suggesting that to achieve energy security and sustainability, government, the private sector and civil society must "pool resources, develop synergies and work together to support the needs of the Caribbean in this emerging sector".

Oil prices have skyrocketed four-fold since 2004 and in recent months the increases have picked up momentum.