A ferry service that will serve islands across the Caribbean appears to be inching closer to reality as CARICOM advances the idea, and plans are being explored to keep costs per trip below $US100.
This is according to Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Barbados, Kerrie Symmonds, who made comments on closing statements made by CARICOM Chair and Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness, following a meeting of Heads of Government of CARICOM in Jamaica last week.
“On the issue of regional transportation, we also agreed to establish a small committee led by the Prime Ministers of St Vincent and the Grenadines and the Republic of Barbados, as well as the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana to review presentations on ferries and report back to Heads,” Holness announced.
Symmonds pointed out that discussions have been held with Caribbean private sector organizations that have indicated that they are onboard with the idea.
“The discussion now [turns] on how we can drive the cost down, and the ambition is to have those costs [per] person well beneath 100 United States dollars per trip, and therefore making access between the islands far more competitive for a wider [swath] of people than there now are,” he stated.
He did not say whether the cost will include government taxes.
Symmonds said the intention is that the ferry provide more connectivity across the Caribbean island chain.
“So, for example, those products which may be brought from Guyana to Barbados may also be carried to St Vincent and may also be carried out to Dominica,” he remarked.
“The intention, however, is to move beyond to just moving cargo, we also want to find a way of moving people and to move people at inexpensive rates.”
The idea of a ferry that will serve the Caribbean is nothing new, but that idea has never fully materialized.
Back in 2011, then Prime Minister of Barbados, Freundel Stuart had made it clear at a CARICOM Heads of Government meeting in St Kitts that he would not tolerate any obstacles to the establishment of efficient transport facilities in the region. He reiterated the call during the opening ceremony of the Caribbean Shipping Association’s 41st Annual General Meeting and Exhibition, also in 2011.
In 2012, it was announced that Barbados-based, Fast Caribbean Ltd, was selected to manage a regional ferry service scheduled to come on stream later that same year. Initially, the ferry was expected to carry passengers, vehicles and goods from its base in Trinidad and Tobago to Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Lucia, and Barbados.
As recently as January 2024, a private sector consortium, led by Upturn Funds Caribbean in collaboration with Pleion Group Inc., said it was launching a ferry service, which they called “Connect Caribe.”
It was expected to come to service by the end of 2024, offering weekly and daily round trips, linking Barbados with St Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, St Vincent, Grenada, Dominica, Antigua, Suriname, and Guyana.
Despite these apparent failures, Jamaica’s Prime Minister Holness believes there is a need for a regional ferry to enhance regional trade.
He said the CARICOM committee will review proposals for the ferry service, which is expected to begin in the Eastern Caribbean and include cargo capabilities.
“There is a strong basis for intra-regional trade, but there has to be public infrastructure to support that as well,” he said.
A very good and welcoming move. Hope this time it comes to fruition. Please do not use the Galleon Passage boat from Trinidad and Tobago. Find a good boat that can maneuver the choppy waters out there. Purchase a proper and comfortable boat for such a journey. When persons reach, their destination, they must be able to enjoy it to the fullest and not be sick from the rocking and uncomfortable boat ride. The sailing must be like a cruise experience, then persons and families would be more encouraged to go.
Question: Would a licensed vehicle from Trinidad and Tobago be able to drive in another Caribbean country and vice ser versa (In terms of the registration plate #)?
Have a blessed day in the name of Jesus Christ.
Well Trinidad has lost voice with this united idea to bring the countries of the Caribbean countries together. But just as the case of the CCJ we may catch up some time later. It’s a good idea and is fully supported by Trinidad even if our present government is mucho silently on it out low representation at the heads meeting seems somewhat slow in thinking that far ahead. Great work leaders.
Carribean goverments is bare jokes only care about them selfs why all this time them still fooling about with this fery then poor people stuggling to payair fare Barbados is the only one again pushing this
Continue talking with no action and you will see a foreign entity instituting the initiative before you can blink your eye!!! Procrastination at its best!!!
Boy CARICOM can talk a good talk but cold and quiet on delivery! Almost two decades now these guys repeating the same thing that the past Prime Ministers repeated and they parroting with no shame, decade after decade! CARICOM going nowhere fast!