Published: Dominica News Online – January 25, 2024.
Dominica is expected to benefit from a planned ferry service that aims at increasing travel among Caribbean countries, mainly along the southern part of the island chain. Earlier this week, a private sector consortium, led by Upturn Funds Caribbean in collaboration with Pleion Group Inc, launched the ferry service, which they called “Connect Caribe.”
The service is expected to begin operation by the end of this year, offering weekly and daily round trips, linking Barbados with Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, St Vincent, Grenada, Dominica, Antigua, Suriname, and Guyana. It is expected to enhance tourism and the free movement of people and goods in the region.
Connect Caribe executives held a press conference in Barbados this week to explain to reporters the details of the project.
“We are marking the inception of a company that embodies the spirit of connectivity, accessibility and progress,” Chief Communications Consultant Jennifer Highland said.
Chairman and CEO of Connect Caribe, Dr Andre Thomas, explained that initially, the company will operate three vessels which will include a large ferry capable of carrying 800 passengers with 200 first-class rooms, a fast ferry that will carry 435 passengers and a cargo ship that will begin servicing Barbados, Suriname, St Vincent, and St Lucia beforeexpanding to other countries in the region. According to him, the three proposed vessels will have the capacity to transport up to 8,000 passengers, cargo and manufactured goods and produce.
Dr Thomas explained that the fare is expected to be about US$100, round trip, minus government taxes.
“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,” he stated.
He said the project will affect the lives of people across the Caribbean.
“We have embarked on a very important journey to bring the aspirations of region maritime transportation from concept to a reality,” he stated. “When we began this journey about 18 months ago, we proceeded to read every single study that had been done on maritime transportation. We felt that if there ever was a project that would affect the lives of men and women across the Caribbean, it would be this such project… 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 ecommerce element. So we have partnered with Windward Ferries, Ramps Logistics, JS Cruises and Tours / The Maritime Institute, and HCISConsortium, to create this company.”
Judeen Scantlebury, President of the company’s Travel Division said the service will be of great benefit to the region.
“This new ferry service is poised to bring a multitude of benefits to each island in the region; not only will it provide reliable and efficient transportation for both locals and tourists, but it will also stimulate economic growth, promote tourism and enhance connectivity between the islands,” she said.
The first phase of the project is expected to cost an estimated US$50 million which will come from the Caribbean division of Upturn Funds, a venture capital firm with offices in Bridgetown, Dubai, United Arab Emirates and New York City.