CARICOM mulls inter regional ferry service

Jul 07, 2022 News

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– initial focus to be Guyana, TT, Barbados and Grenada

Kaieteur News – Caricom leaders have mandated the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) to commence a proposed roadmap study on the factors needed for successfully establishing a fast ferry service for the transportation of agricultural produce within the region.

The ferry will have an initial focus on trade between Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, and Barbados, Caricom said in a communiqué released following the heads summit in Suriname which concluded this week.

According to the communiqué, Heads of Government considered the Region’s need for a significantly enhanced transportation system that can bolster food security and deepen regional integration. “Heads of Government welcomed an update from the Prime Minister of Barbados on advanced discussions with the United Arab Emirates regarding support for both a traditional ferry and fast ferry service for the Region and noted that a related proposal from the Capital Abu Dhabi is being awaited,” the communiqué noted.

Besides, the heads also agreed to establish a Working Group to provide oversight of the project which will include representatives from the Governments of Barbados, Grenada, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, as well as the CARICOM Secretariat, Caricom Private Sector Organisation (CPSO), and the CDB.

The matter of improved transportation and connectivity had been one of grave concern over the years and it was raised again at the recently held Agriculture Expo hosted in Guyana. The CARICOM Heads of Government at the exposition called on investors to allocate funding to transport goods throughout the Community.

Premier of Montserrat, Joseph Farrell had rallied investors to support the acquisition of “at least two ships, one going north and one going south, so that we can move our products from one country to the next.” Prime Minister Keith Rowley had also referred to the multipurpose vessels that were donated in the era of the West Indies Federation by the Government of Canada to the Region, and told investors, “If you really want to help CARICOM …, one of the best things that you could do is to help the team of governments to fund and have operating, within the CARICOM Region, vessels of that nature so as to bring our people together by seas…It has been done; it needs to be done. Goods and services by sea after by rail is always the cheapest,’’ Dr. Rowley asserted.
For his part, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minster, Gaston Browne, said it is imperative to find the means to “move our goods”, as he pointed out that it was easier to ship goods from Miami than within the Region.

“If we don’t have transportation then all our efforts would be in vain… In this regard, reliable transportation by sea and by air is imperative and urgently requires attention. It is imperative and urgently demands attention,” he said. Deputy Prime Minister of the Bahamas, Chester Cooper also threw out the challenge for the Caribbean to develop a strategic plan that targets logistical transport and connectivity issues.

Slow pace of CSME
Meanwhile, also at the summit Heads of Government expressed disappointment at the slow pace of implementation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) and took immediate steps to move the process forward. They noted in particular the area of movement of skilled workers and in that regard agreed to definitions of and qualifications for household domestics, an agricultural worker and private security officer which are agreed categories for free movement.

“Heads of Government mandated the Secretariat to convene meetings of the Registrars of Companies and the Ministers with responsibility for companies before the end of July 2022 to elaborate the steps to enable Member States to implement the principle of mutual recognition of any company incorporated in another CARICOM Member State and report to the Conference at its meeting in September,” the communiqué stated.

Heads of Government acknowledged online solutions designed to increase efficiency in the delivery of services to the Region have been advanced. These include – the Labour Market Information System (LMIS), Online Companies Registry System (OCRS), the Community Public Procurement Notice Board (CPPNB), the CARICOM Rapid Alert System for Exchange of Information on Dangerous (non-food) Goods (CARREX) and the CARICOM Interactive Marketplace and Suspension Procedure (CIMSuPro).

The 43rd Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) was held from 3-5 July 2022. Chair of the Conference, the President of Suriname, Chandrikapersad Santokhi presided over the proceedings.

Other Members of the Conference in attendance were: Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne; Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Philip Davis; Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley, Q.C; MP; Prime Minister of Belize, John Briceño; Prime Minister of Dominica, Roosevelt Skerrit; Prime Minister of Grenada, Dickon Mitchell; President of Guyana, His Excellency Mohamed Irfaan Ali; Prime Minister of Haiti, Ariel Henry; Premier of Montserrat, Joseph Farrell; Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, Philip Pierre; the Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr Ralph Gonsalves; and the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr the Honourable Keith Rowley. Jamaica was represented by Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson-Smith Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade; St Kitts and Nevis was represented by Ambassador Lionel Sydney Osborne, Ambassador to CARICOM.

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