A Caribbean Ferry Service?

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SOURCE: Searchlight- How many times has this promise been dangled in front of us in the last few years? As the regional airline service became more unreliable and outrageously expensive, there have been several announcements of a regional ferry service which even occupied the attention of CARICOM Heads of Government. It went as far as a supposed schedule being published with starting dates and all, emphasizing that it would be cheaper, more convenient and reliable than available air services.

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All this was happening as the only truly regional air service that we could count on, LIAT 1974 Ltd, was going through what turned out to be its death throes. By a twist of fate, the latest pronouncement on the promised regional ferry came just as LIAT was announcing its final flight. Maybe we were supposed to feel that all is not lost. Is this initiative intended as a palliative? Those behind it have promised that the proposed venture will offer a reliable service to the Eastern Caribbean and would have positive economic spinoffs.

Welcome as any regional ferry service undoubtedly would be, there are still many unanswered questions. In an area where the people in the various islands can literally see their counterparts in neighbouring islands, it is ridiculous that water should be a barrier to our collective development.

Why should the sea be a drawback to our freedom of movement in the Caribbean?

The case for a regional ferry does not have to be made again.

If we take the area from Guyana up to the Leeward Islands, there is a population of almost 4 million people and a potential tourist market of more than 3 million, just waiting to be served. From a customer level the case is already made.

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Yet we have been unable to make this a reality. We have had a flurry of announcements in recent weeks including one by the governments of Guyana, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago for instance of the impending formation of a company to provide ferry services not only between these three countries but with extensions to other countries in the Windward islands.

Then CEO of Windward Ferries Tore Torsteinson who will also be in charge of the ferry division of the lead company “Connect Caribe” disclosed that his company is in discussions with regional leaders about how to operationalize the project. He said that plans are to use vessels with a capacity of up to 800 passengers plus cargo with a modest standard fare of US $100 plus government charges. (Airline experience has been that such charges can be significant). He disclosed that it is planned to begin operations by late 2024, starting with the Guyana-Trinidad-Barbados route and expanding to other islands to the north, including SVG.

A number of issues need to be clarified. First, is this a joint private sector/public sector one or entirely a private sector investment? What is the expected role of the government(s) in it?

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Which governments will be involved? Then, related to this first issue is the matter of investment funding. Are government subsidies envisaged? Or will governments be expected to provide the enabling environment – legislative, administrative and otherwise?

Then there is, of course, the critical matter of the viability of such an enterprise. There are a lot of lessons we ought to have learnt from LIAT- some very bitter pills to swallow. Let us not be innocent lambs going to the slaughter this time. It is time for us to demonstrate our maturity as a developing people, committed to regionalism and conscious what such an enterprise can do for regional development. Some clarity please!

SOURCE: Searchlight

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2 COMMENTS

  1. SEARCHLIGHT’s moniker is “Journalism you can trust”. While this article does not contain untrustworthy information, it is not journalism.
    The source of the article is those who a proposing the venture, with no further sourcing or fact checking. No analysis or relevant information beyond the news release.

    While CONNECT CARIBE is a laudable venture, any good regional news portal would have expanded this article and give it context which better informs its readers.

    Caribbean media failed the Caribbean people with LIAT in not exploring why was LIAT failing.

    There is another Eastern Caribbean Ferry Service in the making with the series of MOUs GOAB signed with the Chinese Government.

    Should this be true; and can be easily verified as the media should do; it will mean Connect Caribe is dead on arrival.
    Given this is a Caribbean enterprise to serve CARICOM countries, where is the media beyond posted up press releases.

    It is the medias’ role to provide in-depth article which informs and explore this important issue that affects the entire Caribbean, and not have the public reaching uninformed conclusions.

    Time for the Caribbean media to explore the implications of these China/Antigua MOUs rather than coming to the table on the issue when it’s too late.

  2. This can work, once thought through carefully..I will want to believe that It will need at least two ships doing two different routes of at least 4 -5 Islands on each route something like a Minicruise, give passengers the option of staying on an Island of their choice to be picked up in a 6 -7 days return and others can continue on an Island hoping cruise with an 8hrs on land..

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