Trinidad offers cargo ferry as Caricom moves to reduce trade costs – PM Mottley

In a move to address the rising cost of living across the Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago has offered to supply a vessel to temporarily ship cargo among Caricom Member States as the region continues to feel the effects of increasing prices due to the conflicts in the Middle East.
This was revealed by the Prime Minister (PM) of Barbados, Mia Mottley, on Wednesday during the closing press conference to wrap up the four-day 51st Regular Meeting of the Caricom Heads of Government held in St Lucia this week.
In response to a question about what actions or decisions were taken by heads to deal with the rising cost of living in the region caused by external shocks, PM Mottley, who is leading the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) initiative in the quasi-cabinet of the regional bloc, explained that some countries have taken steps internally to combat the increasing global prices, especially as it relates to fuel.
However, she noted that the focus has now shifted towards bringing down the cost of trade amongst Member States as a measure to cut cargo costs, ease inflationary pressures and bolster intra-regional trade.
“The major, major initiative that we want to be able to do is to reduce the cost of cargo for intra-island trade,” the Barbadian leader indicated.
To do this, PM Mottley said that the PM of Trinidad and Tobago, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, has indicated her country’s willingness to temporarily provide a vessel to ship goods between Caribbean nations.
“We are now about to enter discussions, Prime Minister [Dr Godwin] Friday from St Vincent and the Grenadines, Prime Minister Bissessar and I as lead on CSME, to see how best we can utilise one of the Trinidad vessels as a proof of concept… And I’ve undertaken the responsibility of working with colleagues to be able to get the treaty arrangements for mutual recognition of licences and insurance so that cargo vehicles can literally go on and come off where possible. This is a work in progress,” PM Mottley stated.
Given that this is a proof of concept, Mottley went on to add that the cargo vessel will be deployed to ports in the Southern and Eastern Caribbean. However, she noted that this still requires an assessment of the infrastructure in place at these port facilities.
“So, I give you the assurance that we are singularly focused on being able to reduce the cost of intra-island cargo, which, in addition to the other measures that we have taken to increase disposable income of our citizens, also reduces the cost of freight, the cost of gas, and the cost of electricity, all of which, when combined, can be completely inflationary, is what we’re doing together,” the Barbadian leader noted, reminding that this inflation is imported.
This cargo vessel is expected to start operations in the next three months. However, it would be operating in the interim until the highly anticipated regional ferry service comes on stream.
Guyana’s President, Dr Irfaan Ali, had first announced plans in April 2023 for the establishment of a regional ferry service to move people and goods across the region as part of efforts to increase intra-regional trade.
Since then, CariCargo Incorporated, the company that will be operating the service, has been incorporated in Guyana, comprising directors from Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana.
In fact, the Trinidadian Cabinet had previously approved the use of its Galleons Passage vessel, which has the capacity to accommodate up to 400 passengers and 60 vehicles, to operate the ferry service. However, technical evaluations later determined that the vessel was not feasible to operate the proposed route.
Nevertheless, regional leaders anticipate that CariCargo could obtain a suitable vessel for the commencement of operations within a year.
“The long-awaited ferry is something that we’re working on assiduously. But…the private sector arrangements…may take as long as a year because they have to source vessels, while we do the regulatory work,” PM Mottley stated.
Similarly, Caricom Chairman, PM of St Lucia, Philip Pierre, noted during his closing remarks at Wednesday’s press briefing that further progress was made during the four-day conference towards the free movement of Caricom nationals.
“We also accelerated towards establishing an affordable regional service that will improve travel, facilitate trade, strengthen food security and make our community more connected,” the Caricom chairman stated.