Better transport system needed to slash food import bill – incoming Caricom Chair

…urges revival of single domestic space, easier travel between Member States

Prime Minister of Dominica, Roosevelt Skerrit, the incoming Chairman of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), has echoed the urgings of President Dr Irfaan Ali that an effective transportation system must be seen as priority for slashing the regional food import bill.
The opening ceremony of Caricom’s Heads of Government meeting saw Bahamas Prime Minister Phillip Davis handing over the regional chairmanship to his Dominican counterpart, Skerrit.

In his address, Skerrit spoke of the regional agricultural agenda and the importance of tackling all the hindrances to achieving the ‘25 by 2025’ target – hindrances such as non-tariff barriers, which hamper trade between countries.
“As we set ourselves new targets to ensure that we thrive in this ever-changing global environment, there are unfinished tasks that we must complete. The issues of free movement, non-tariff barriers to trade, reliable and affordable transportation are all fundamental to a truly integrated Caricom.”
“We must address our minds and collective will to resolve some key issues. We have the opportunity on this historic occasion, and as we deliberate over the next few days, to take some decisions that can be truly transformative for our people, and which will shape the future of our community for the next 50 years,” Skerrit said.
President Dr Irfaan Ali has been vocal in advocating for a stronger regional transportation system to boost trade. Skerrit echoed these sentiments in his address. While Skerrit acknowledged that early indications show the agriculture sector rising to meet the challenge, he added that a robust transportation system remains critical to slashing the regional food bill.
“Another of our processes which must be addressed, is that of regional travel. We are all very aware of the challenges of making air and sea transportation more efficient and affordable; but I dare say, it is for these insistent challenges, that our Region looks most to this Caricom Community for solutions. The movement of people and goods are the backbone of a successful integration arrangement.”
“We have done all the studies, and the statistics point us to the favourable outcome of an effective transportation system. I accept that this is a challenge that requires investments which may not see an immediate return. It requires confidence, that the provision of such a service will boost commercial opportunities and encourage more intra-regional travel. Our drive to reduce our food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025 depends in large measure on intra-regional transportation,” Skerrit also said.
The PM urged the revitalisation of the Single Domestic Space and concerted measures to make travel between member states as seamless as possible. According to him, the Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS), is already tried and tested and noted that the system “makes a nonsense of the continued use of ED forms.”
“My distinguished colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, it is time to make intra-regional travel a joy rather than a hassle. Sixteen years ago, we showed considerable commitment and political will to allow our people to move freely through 10 Member States. It worked then; it can work now,” Skerrit said.
Last month, President Ali had called for solutions in the regional transport and logistics sector. He had explained that in order to transform the Caribbean into a regional food hub, there must be a better network for the movement of goods.
As far back as in 2021, while addressing a Regional Sub-Committee on the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME), President Ali had informed them that the Lead Head on Transport has been engaged with a view to developing specific recommendations to incentivise private sector interest and partnership in transport and logistics, in order to better serve the agri-food systems’ agenda.
He had explained that the Ministerial Taskforce had recognised transport and logistics as integral to the effective implementation of the Caricom agri-food systems agenda. According to him, there were options being explored.
It was also announced last year, during a joint press conference between President Ali and Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley, that the possibility of establishing a ferry between the two territories, to strengthen collaboration in several areas, specifically agriculture, was being explored.
Meanwhile, it was disclosed recently that Caricom is mulling the implementation of a fast ferry to boost intra-regional trade. The regional bloc also has its eyes set on a maritime policy. (G3)