Published: Loop T&T News – January 24, 2024
A private sector-led regional ferry service was launched in Barbados on Tuesday 23 January aimed at increasing and improving transportation among the Caribbean countries.
Upturn Funds Caribbean in collaboration with Pleion Group Incorporated unveiled the joint-venture partnership, which it said has led to the establishment of the new private sector-led ferry company - “Connect Caribe”
Speaking at the launch held by stakeholders, the co-founder and chief executive officer for the Caribbean region, Andre Thomas said discussions are currently ongoing between regional leaders including this country’s Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and his Guyana and Barbados counterparts on the services offered by Caribe as well as the benefits attached.
“We are in talks with the governments...There is a significant discussion on how we can integrate and tackle this huge opportunity and problem. I believe that where there are problems, there are opportunities…so there will be significant collaboration between the service that will be done by the governments and our service,” he said.
Thomas said its services will be a game changer in the transportation industry. He further noted that the three proposed vessels will have the capacity to transport up to 8,000 passengers, cargo and manufactured goods and produce.
Thomas noted that the service, scheduled to begin in the last quarter of 2024, will offer weekly and daily round trips, linking Barbados with Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, St Vincent, Grenada, Dominica, Antigua, Suriname, and Guyana. He said specific focus is also being placed on the Barbados-Trinidad-Guyana route.
But exactly how much are passengers expected to pay?
“A standard fare on our service would cost only US$100 plus whatever charges come from that particular government. So for US$100, we want you to be able to move from Barbados to Trinidad,” Thomas said.
Declaring itself a game changer in regional transport, Connect Caribe’s launch comes some two weeks after Dr Rowley confirmed that the government had earmarked the Galleons Passage to connect Port of Spain with Bridgetown and Georgetown.
The Prime Minister revealed that the decision was driven by a need to move raw materials and fresh produce from the producing areas to the consumption and manufacturing areas within this sub-zone of CARICOM.