World Bank recommends ferry service between North and South Caribbean

L’Express des Isles (l) and Val Ferry are two sub-regional ferry services currently serving Dominica

The World Bank recently completed a preliminary study on a ferry service that would move goods, people and vehicles from the north of the Caribbean to the south of the Caribbean.

In making the announcement, the Deputy Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, Trevor Brathwaite, also said that the World Bank is now making a pitch as to how the private players can develop such a ferry service.

Brathwaite said that the Central Bank and the World Bank are trying to influence the consolidation of existing ferry services, including those running between Martinique and St. Lucia.

“For example, if you want to go on holiday to Dominica and you have a vehicle. Instead of having to rent a vehicle when you get to Dominica, you drive your vehicle on board the ferry. When you each Dominica, you are processed and free to drive there,” he explained.

Brathwaite said further that the same process applies when the traveller is ready to return home.

“Then you ready to come back you drive unto the ferry and come back with your vehicle,” he stated.

Car rental companies across the region are likely to oppose such a move but Brathwaite said “it depends on how you look at it. You can either look at the glass half full or half empty. We have to change our mindset,” he said.

He said many business companies are supporting the move.

“We cannot always be negative. We have to look at the positive. Otherwise we will be moaning and groaning every day,” he added.

He said a proper ferry service plying the entire Caribbean archipelago would boost tourism and integration.

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33 Comments

  1. September 18, 2018

    Ha ha haaaaaa! wonder what is the thought process of the Punjab PhD at this time; Mr Linton made a proposal in Parliament some time ago and he was ridiculed by the the self proclaimed most intelligent and thoughtful PM in the whole Caribbean and his Cabal; hope we get some apologies. But then again what do we expect “from an empty bag of coals but dust”.

  2. Faceup
    September 17, 2018

    Most pasengers between Guadeloupe and Martinique drive bring thier vihicles on the ferry..Car rentals should not have a problem. France does it with the rest of the E.U. so the Caricom countries should not have a probs with that. That is where the world is today.

  3. Love 'em
    September 17, 2018

    I support this. Let’s go!

  4. Pipi
    September 17, 2018

    Why you want to take a rental to another country by ferry anyway. It would only cost you extra so it is cheaper to hire another car in the other country and save the transport cost.

  5. Lapwet
    September 17, 2018

    Oh boy. Another opportunity for Baron to claim someone tief an idea of his.

    Injustice number 675.

  6. joe
    September 17, 2018

    i agree 100% with the rental companies ,it doesn’t make sense for ppl to come to dominica with their vehicles.one have to take in to consideration of the accidents that could occur seeing that drivers coming with their cars r not accustom with that kind of road we have in dominica. smh what a idea

    • UKDominican
      September 17, 2018

      That is not an issue Joe. The U.K. drives on the same side
      of the road as we do in Dominica. There are plenty of U.K. vehicles crossing on to the European coninent every day, and vice versa. Furthermore, these vehicles carry Europe wide insurance.
      Just drive off the ferry ( ….or train if you prefer to by Eurostar through the Channel tunnel) and go. Easy!

    • Anthony P. Ismael MInister of Free Pampers
      September 17, 2018

      You make absolutely no sense and you clearly misunderstood the article. So If a St. Lucian comes to Dominica and rents a vehicle while they’re on vacation, wouldn’t they be driving on the same dangerous roads that you spoke about? The answer is a resounding yes.

  7. John Jay
    September 17, 2018

    I support this move a 100%. Because am not seeing that under this present regime, I see no way that we are having an international airport in the next 3 to 5 years.
    So with the increase of ferry services after the major airlines land in St. Lucia, Martinique & Guadeloupe. Would be a good move to the people coming and doing business in Dominica.

  8. anonymous2
    September 17, 2018

    Sounds good to me. I am surprised that it has taken this long for it to be seriously considered. Cheaper than the planes.

  9. The laughing stock of the Caribbean
    September 16, 2018

    “For example, if you want to go on holiday to Dominica and you have a vehicle. Instead of having to rent a vehicle when you get to Dominica, you drive your vehicle on board the ferry. When you each Dominica, you are processed and free to drive there,” he explained.

    Another Caribbean professional, this time from St. Lucia, making a mockery of Dominica in a very clever and technical way. Mr. Brathwaite why didn’t you use your home land St. Lucia or Barbados as example? Boy all you laughing at us in Dominica , especially the backward state Skerrit has brought upon us. I feel very strongly that when the world bank made that recommendation they had Dominica in mind, since our access is available in all other Caribbean islands except Dominica. So if you suggesting that persons should bring their cars to Dominica I guess all you should also suggest that persons should also travel with their doctor and a mobile hospital, when coming to Dominica.

    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
      September 17, 2018

      The people reading you here will hate you for your opinions you know: St. Lucia have two airports, one an International Airport inherited from the United States, after World War ll; right at this moment they are building a new one.

      However, this St. Lucia clown is directing the idiots in to utilize ferry for our main means of transporting people into and out of Dominica!

      What did Ralph Gonzales do to Skerrit?

      He came to Dominica, told Roosevelt and the clowns who votes for him; do not build an International Airport, all he need to do is what you see at Melville Hall tight now; after spending one half of a billion dollars, there are no night landings. Meanwhile, Gonzales went home and build an International Airport for his people in St. Vincent, at a cost of just over seven hundred million dollars!

      Half of a billion dollars is five hundred million dollars which could be used in the building of a new airport in Dominica.

      We are stupid! 

      • Just thinking
        September 17, 2018

        Where in st Lucia is a new airport being built? I live in st Lucia, Vieux fort to be exact and not even renovations are being done on the international one.

  10. Ti Garcon
    September 16, 2018

    This suggestion has been floating around for decades now, and we cant truly consider the Caribbean integrated without the free movement of people. This will no doubt lead to increased economic activity between the islands.

    Whats funny also, the main problem associated with ferrying in Dominica has been also known for decades. This is the long wait times of UNNECESSARY luggage checks which is a deterrent to people using the ferries either for business travel or tourism. Dominica is literally the ONLY place in the world were every item of everybodies luggage is not only inspected, but in a very public manner. Its not only embarrassing, but time consuming. The leave on the ferry you gotta arrive 2-3hrs in advance, and after you arrive on the ferry, you may wait 2-3hrs to leave!!! That’s longer that the boat ride!

    From Antigua to St Kitts, Trinidad to Tobago- riding a ferry is like riding a bus. Or a train. Or an airplane in any civilized airport. You just pay the fare.

    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
      September 17, 2018

      “This suggestion has been floating around for decades now, and we cant truly consider the Caribbean integrated without the free movement of people. This will no doubt lead to increased economic activity between the islands. ”

      Try and know your history before you indulge in talking nonsense. What is the difference in a Caribbean integration, and the West Indies Federation It is one of the same! This is not a long talk about; there was a West Indies Federation?

      The West Indies is the “Caribbean!”

      So, for your information we already had a West Indian ” West Indies/Caribbean Federation which failed in 1962!

      Trinidad was the Capital of the Caribbean: Where were you then? The Federal Palm, and Maple was suppose to have done all the Frey’s can do to day. They failed; you stupid Dominicans are grabbing on to dry straws floating down on a raging overflowing river.

      An example of that river is the murky clay contaminated river you find overflowing in Dominica this…

    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
      September 17, 2018

      Ti Garcon; or little boy as you term yourself; I am sorry to inform you that you are a fool! Antigua has an International Airport on the main land Antigua, and they are now building another International Airport on the sister dependent island of Barbuda; That was flattened by Maria last year.

      They have a Frey which runs between Trinidad & Tobago, nevertheless there are two International Airports I know of in Trinidad, and one in Tobago!

      There is a government boat which runs between St. Kitts and Nevis, nevertheless; St. Kitts has an International Airport built by a Dominican born Paul Southwell from the village of Castle Bruce when he served as Premiere of St. Kitts, Nevis and Anguilla during the “West Indies Federation.”

      And there is an Airport in Nevis larger than Melville Hall Airport!

      None of the islands you are using to justify your backwardness depends on boat to give people access Internationally, to and from their country that is the difference. 

      Shut up!

  11. September 16, 2018

    Will Cuba be on the list of destinations

    • Anonymous
      September 17, 2018

      No, but Venezuela will. You will get cheap gas there.Just bring plenty of U.S. Dollars and your own food. Madura loves U.S.$., more than his own money.

  12. Capt Sam
    September 16, 2018

    This something I always look at and hope to see happen in the future

  13. Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
    September 16, 2018

    I need to follow up on this; someone is deliberately talking fart, in an attempt to keep Dominica  down!

    The issue is an International Airport; I would not be surprise if the people who has those two measly boat are not involved into this plot.

    In the first  place Cargo are shipped in Contains these days, insurance companies demands that. The two vesicles seen tied up, are incapable of accommodating container cargo.

    Someone is trying to take Dominica backwards, that make me feel sick to my stomach; know that will not help Dominica: If sailing ship between Dominica and any place in the Caribbean, I would not be living in America.

    We had a ship “M V Felskove” we operated between Copenhagen Denmark, and Cuxhaven West Germany, in the 1970’s we brought it to the Caribbean in 1977. The only cargo it ever took to Dominica was 400 bags of flower  to Nassif  from Puerto Rico.

    If that advise is from the World Bank that is bad advise! 

    Failure advise that is!

    • Liz M
      September 17, 2018

      Francisco ma boy keep your shirt on! This is business opportunities despite an intl airport, mutually inclusive, not an either or. If I were you I wouldn’t sell all my stocks or sell one of my apartments to go into this but it’s opportunity for some of your friends with the money just sitting in the bank, who would like to see the money grow and at the same time create employment for many idle young men and women.

      • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
        September 17, 2018

        Liz, if what you believe was fact,I might do exactly as you said; but no amount of boat is going to help Dominica out of the economic depression in which the country stands.

        I do not believe the World Bank would give anybody in Dominica such a stupid  advise; and if they did somebody in Dominica should have enough commonsense to realize if we are talking tourism the only and best alternative is an International Airport!

        If the World Bank gave that advise; there is no need to wonder why some nations which in the past took the World Bank advise, and acted on it failed, they collapsed! The owners of boat talking that nonsense, are self-centered, as long as their boat is providing a source of income for them: screw Dominica!

        Some brothers operated a small airline in Dominica, they detested an International Airport because they were making money. Their airline was short lived, one crashed in the Mountains of Wesley and Marigot!

        I tried Boat; did not work!

    • Man bites dogs
      September 17, 2018

      @ Francisco the hypocrite, This man said and here’s the punch line! you will Like it. Someone is trying to take Dominica backwards,that make me feel sick to my stomach.But Francisco, you been doing just that for the last 15years saying all sorts of nasties about prime minister Skerrit, Labour supporters and Dominica, Now what has change or it’s because you now realise Workers calamity party has not got a dog of a chance of winning next general election, you blue parrots been having a laugh far too long .twisted:

      • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
        September 17, 2018

        Man bit Dog, there is a time for insults, and a time when one nee to be serious, as such am am not going to waste to insult you today. My question to you is how many islands in the Caribbean you know is dependent on Ferry  Boat as the main source and means of transportation of people from the international world, and the Caribbean into their country?

        You people are simply to backward; and foolish!

        We are in the twenty-first century; boat are not transporting people from America, England, Canada or any place in the world, to suit a domestic problem. The tourists ships are a very different situation, that is why they are seasonal.
        If you live in Europe as you said in the summer, vacationing students, and working adults travel Europe on giant Frey’s laden with people and cargo. I been there done that. By the time summer is over the fun is done.

        In spite of that Jet’s are the main source of transportation in Europe.

      • Man bites dogs
        September 17, 2018

        FRANCISCO, you been in the U.S. far too long 41 years.Ferry services is big business in Europe winter or summer every day ferrys from the UK major ports and there are many goes to Europe to and from with or without their cars shopping or holidays, so don’t give me all that crap and lies, I have done more travelling than you have had hot dinners so shut it thanks. ?

      • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
        September 18, 2018

        Man bite Dog, just in case you do not know; Germany, Denmark, Belgium, France, Spain, and England are in Western Europe. 

        I lived in Cuxhaven in West Germany; I lived in England. I Sail ship between Copenhagen, and Seaddler Cuxhaven in Germany; there is nothing you can tell me about a Ferry that I do not know!

        You cannot compare Europe with Dominica; there are millions if not billions of people traveling across Europe in the summer on Ferry’s specifically spending their vacation on a Ferry; no disembarkation. There are also millions of people traveling by air.

        The garbage impression you are trying to give the ignorant fools in Dominica is that Aircraft do not transport people in Europe; but Ferry’s do. Stop your crap boy, where in Europe can you tell me people prefer to travel by Ferry, rather than plane.

        From Heathrow to Cuxhaven flying time is 2hrs, on a Ferry it takes more than nine hours, I been there boy, done that! You are sot, sot, sot!

  14. Patriotic Dominican
    September 16, 2018

    Well, finally. Brings me back to the days of the Federal Palm and the Federal Maple. Time for us to have a better means of movement, all with the hopes of building Caribbean Integration. Well, if the Car rentals companies are upset, that is there problem. The world is evolving. Maybe now they will reduce their very, extremely high rates, especially in Dominica

  15. Malatete
    September 16, 2018

    A splendid idea and I fully support it. Many such services ply in Europe for instance: Poland to
    Finland and Sweden, the U.K. to Belgium. Holland, France and Spain, the Greek island and there are many others. We do not need to re-invent the wheel, just follow existing best practices.

    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
      September 17, 2018

      Yes, but how many millions of people are in Europe, and such services are more effective in the Summer. Now someone reading you may say; “yes” we want that! Nevertheless, that sort of thing cannot work between Dominica and the islands of the Caribbean.

      Anybody who is suggesting million Frey to transport passengers in and out of Dominica is a fool! If that could work Ross University School of Medicine would still be in Dominica.

      The few other foreign investors who left would still be in Dominica in business, they left because we do not have an International Airport in the country!

      Mind you the Chines government told Roosevelt Skerrit, the only way Dominica will begin to make some progress is when he build an International Airport?

      I challenge anyone of you to deny that, even Roosevelt Skerrit himself. There is no reason for such blind backwardness in the twenty-first century.

      What employment a damn boat can provide. We had a Cargo Ship five of us worked on it! 

      • Malatete
        September 17, 2018

        It is not only tourist traffic that uses rollon-rolloff ferries in Europe. They are extensively used for door-to-door shipments by truck, which ensure deliveries with the minimum of handling and delay. For instance vegetables from Morocco to the U.K. In two days is possible. and they are used no less in winter than in summer. The port of Dover for instance is busy with this truck traffic non-stop, 24/7. We should not always use the U.S.A. as a role model or yard stick.

  16. Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
    September 16, 2018

    Some need to remind the world Bank that the Canadian Government in the days of West Indies Federation gave the Islands including Dominica two giant Steam Ship ” The Federal Palm & The Federal Maple” to move people and cargo between Guyana in the South to Jamaica in the North.

    They were short lived, because of a lack of traveling tourists, and cargo between the islands. To talk about transporting motor vehicles is hogwash: total nonsense.!

    In the history of the Caribbean the only place I remember cars were manufactured is in Trinidad, and I do not believe Chrestler  Motor operates there anymore.

    Such are dead business in the Caribbean.  I brought a ship out of Denmark, sail across the Caribbean, it took more than a three weeks in Dominica, left without  cargo head south South?

    We got no cargo until we got to St. Lucia; we got three people heading to Barbados with bananas: Sale to Trinidad empty.

    Got a load from to Trinidad to St. Kitts. St. Thomas/St. Kitts paid! 

    • Anonymous
      September 17, 2018

      And before those ships, there were the lady boats. That was over half a century ago when the Eastern Caribbean were British colonies. Technology has progressed significantly since and now you can run fast ferries between the islands. The biggest obstacle is politics and the islands refusing to cooperate on integration on customs and trade regulations along with a lack of investment in productive industries that would generate goods to trade via these ferries. The latter is unlikely to happen as long as offshore banking remains the top priority of the OECS. For now, the elites have managed to keep the masses from uniting to demand regulation of offshore industries but don’t expect that to last forever.

  17. Green
    September 16, 2018

    Before the issue of vehicle can be considered one will first have to consider the cost to transport the vehicle, insurance on ferry and land, road tax, customs importation fees, gasoline, prices differ on each island can one take along reserve. Traffic not a feasible venture.But the ferry service is definitely a good move.

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