A consortium from the private sector has unveiled Connect Caribe, a groundbreaking regional ferry service set to commence operations in the final quarter of 2024. With an initial investment of $100 million, this initiative aims to create an efficient sea transport system connecting various Caribbean nations.
Connect Caribe plans to offer both weekly and daily round trips, linking Barbados with Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, St Vincent, Grenada, Dominica, Antigua, Suriname, and Guyana. The project, viewed as a game-changer in regional transport, comes shortly after Trinidad and Tobago’s confirmation of allocating a ship for intra-regional ferry service connecting Port of Spain with Bridgetown and Georgetown.
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The consortium, backed by Upturn Funds’ Caribbean division, plans to deploy three vessels with a combined capacity to transport up to 8,000 passengers, cargo, and manufactured goods. These vessels will operate independently but collaborate with government efforts in Guyana, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago to establish a critical maritime transport corridor.
Connect Caribe’s co-founder and CEO for the Caribbean region, Dr. Andre Thomas, emphasized the significance of creating a consortium with key players in various maritime sectors. He stated, “We had to create a consortium that would be made up of key players in different sectors of the maritime industry and also bring in an e-commerce element to it.”
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The company’s mission is to “provide the region with world-class transportation and logistics solutions aimed at revolutionizing maritime transportation in the Caribbean.” The strategic partners aim to enhance connectivity and accessibility, positively impacting local communities and regional economies while opening new markets for Caribbean entrepreneurs.
Connect Caribe is in discussions with governments, aiming for collaboration to tackle the significant opportunity and problem in the region. President and Chairman of JS Cruises and Tours, Judeen Scantlebury, highlighted the multitude of benefits the ferry service would bring, including reliable transportation for locals and tourists, economic growth stimulation, tourism promotion, and enhanced connectivity between islands.
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Anthony Hinkson, in charge of the ferry’s e-commerce division, emphasized the benefits for the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) and outlined how Connect Caribe aims to address challenges related to product awareness and transport costs.
This initiative aligns with recent joint efforts by Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados to introduce a ferry system for passenger and cargo transport. Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley confirmed the three governments’ agreement, allowing the Galleons Passage, a roll-on/roll-off/passenger ferry, to initially operate on the Georgetown-Port of Spain-Bridgetown route.
Source: Barbados Today
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