Traveling between Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, and other Caribbean islands could soon cost less than US$100 under a bold new CARICOM initiative to transform regional transportation. Barbados’ Foreign Minister Kerrie Symmonds announced the plan following the recent CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting, framing it as a critical step toward deeper economic integration.
The proposed ferry system, modeled after Europe’s interconnected transport networks, aims to make island-hopping as affordable as it is efficient. “The ambition is to keep costs well beneath US$100 per person,” Symmonds said, emphasizing that the project will prioritize both cargo and passenger movement.
- Advertisement -
“RoPax” vessels—capable of carrying vehicles and travelers—have already been identified, with services expected to link Guyana, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago, with potential stops in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica, and beyond. The Galleons Passage, a ferry with a 400-passenger and 60-vehicle capacity, is set to begin operations soon, featuring onboard amenities like cafeterias and VIP lounges.
Beyond tourism, the initiative promises to strengthen regional trade. Symmonds painted a picture of entrepreneurs seamlessly transporting goods: “A businessman in Dominica could drive his van onto a ferry, load supplies in Barbados, and return home the same day.” The system is also expected to enhance food security by improving the flow of agricultural goods across borders.
However, significant obstacles remain. Port infrastructure must be upgraded to handle roll-on/roll-off traffic, and legal harmonization—including mutual recognition of driver’s licenses, vehicle registrations, and cross-border insurance policies—is essential. “Every jurisdiction has its own insurance and reinsurance rules,” Symmonds noted, highlighting the need for regional coordination.
Non-tariff trade barriers also pose a challenge, requiring collaboration between CARICOM’s technical teams and national governments. Symmonds and Jamaica’s Foreign Minister Kamina Johnson Smith have been appointed to oversee implementation, with Symmonds focusing on the southern Caribbean and Johnson Smith leading northern efforts.
Early discussions with the CARICOM Private Sector Organization (CPSO) have been positive, with talks centered on cost reduction. If successful, the ferry system could bring CARICOM’s long-delayed single market vision closer to reality, reducing travel costs, boosting commerce, and fostering greater regional unity.
With Guyana’s port operations set for Parika and technical teams working on logistics, CARICOM hopes to launch the service in the coming months—finally delivering on a decades-old promise of seamless Caribbean connectivity.
