CARICOM is pushing ahead with plans for a regional ferry network that could make sea travel between Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, and other Caribbean islands cost less than US $100 per ticket.
Barbados’ Foreign Minister Kerrie Symmonds said the project aims to connect the islands for both goods and passengers, creating a more integrated economy similar to Europe’s open travel system. The network would use “RoPax” vessels that carry vehicles and passengers, with possible stops in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica, and other states.
Symmonds and Jamaica’s Foreign Minister Kamina Johnson Smith will lead implementation in the southern and northern Caribbean, respectively. The private sector is already showing interest, but challenges remain. These include harmonising vehicle registration, driver licences, and insurance across borders; upgrading port facilities; and removing non-tariff trade barriers.
CARI Cargo Inc., set up last year in Guyana, will operate the service. The first vessel, Trinidad and Tobago’s Galleons Passage, can carry 400 passengers and 60 cars, and has a cafeteria, bar, and VIP lounge. In Guyana, it will run out of Parika in Region Three.
Supporters say the ferry system could boost tourism, food security, and business opportunities, while making regional travel cheaper and more practical.
Local News
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