Plans advancing for regional ferry service – Caricom

Approximately one year after plans had been announced in regard to the establishment of an inter-regional ferry service that would connect Guyana, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago, Caricom officials have revealed that plans are still being advanced for this service to be launched.
These plans are being spearheaded by Caricom Heads of Government who are prioritizing the development of the passenger/cargo regional ferry service, and
this information was revealed by Caricom officials in a recent exclusive interview with Guyana Times.
In regard to the necessary regulatory and operational systems to facilitate the service, Caricom officials have disclosed, “The necessary regulatory and operational systems to facilitate the service are being put in place. This includes establishing the Board of Directors of CARI-CARGO, acquiring an appropriate vessel, and developing a harmonised approach to vehicle insurance across different jurisdictions.”
It has also been disclosed that the TT vessel Galleon Passage is being reviewed as part of the process of identifying an appropriate vessel to undertake the task, and that this initiative would enjoy priority support, particularly in regard to the movement of food across the region in line with efforts to bolster food and nutrition security in the Caribbean.
Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha had, in October 2024, relayed that trials were ongoing in Trinidad for the launching of the inter-ferry regional service. He had mentioned then of being optimistic that the service would soon be operational, since the board had already been formed, and he had expressed hope of getting an expected commencement date from the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) during that time.
President Dr. Irfaan Ali had by then already revealed that, from Guyana’s end, the vessel would operate out of Parika in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara).
The Trinidad and Tobago Cabinet has approved the use of the Galleon Passage vessel to operate the ferry service. The vessel can accommodate 400 passengers and 60 cars. Among its onboard facilities are a cafeteria, a bar, and a VIP lounge.
CariCargo Incorporated, the company that would be operating the service, has been incorporated in Guyana. It comprises directors from Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana.

Intra-regional transport
The difficulty in transporting agricultural goods and people intra-regionally remains a major one of the many challenges identified by Caricom Heads of Government in their goal to reduce the regional food bill by 25 percent by 2025, as outlined in their ‘25 by 2025’ initiative.
Each country’s position on this issue, along with the commitment of each minister from the respective CARICOM states, emphasizes their dedication to implementing the transportation system, while promoting regional food security without compromising public health, security, and safety.
It has been determined that Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana are on the verge of forming a company to drive the process of introducing the regional ferry service.
An inspection of the Galleons Passage in Port of Spain was conducted in early 2024 by ministers and technical officials, followed by discussions on other important aspects of the proposal, such as plant quarantine, including sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) matters, and immigration and customs procedures for the movement of people and goods for trade. A system for pre-clearance was also proposed for implementation.
A team of technical officials from Trinidad and Tobago visited Guyana and Barbados to inspect port infrastructure and ensure it can accommodate the proposed ferry service.