TRINIDAD AND Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, is on to a good idea in urging her Caribbean Community colleagues to show keen interest in the introduction of a fast-ferry service in order to promote more appreciable intra-regional movement of the people of the Community.
She would, of course, be aware that it is not a new idea, as other CARICOM leaders, business and sports representatives have varyingly spoken about the need for such a development, particularly in relation to the movement of goods and people between Trinidad and Tobago and the Eastern Caribbean.
What seems encouraging about her intervention at the current 32nd CARICOM Summit, which got underway in St Kitts and Nevis on Thursday night, and will conclude tomorrow, is the forthrightness and enthusiasm with which she introduced the subject when interviewed by the media, even before participating in the first working session.
As reported by the ‘Trinidad Guardian’, in reference to regional transport, which is one of the agenda matters to be addressed by Heads during their four-day summit, Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar said:
“One of the things I want to raise has to do with a fast-ferry link within the Eastern Caribbean and Trinidad and Tobago, which will bring us closer together as we try to improve upon the (regional) integration movement. I don’t think we have done enough…”
The truth is that precious LITTLE has been done over the 38 years of CARICOM’s existence when it comes to improving what remains a largely neglected but vital area for the movement of people and goods — intra-regional movement by sea. And the problem seems to be getting worse, amid growing frustration over rising costs and questionable efficiency in the area of air transport.
The Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister would perhaps find a strong ally in her Vincentian counterpart, Ralph Gonsalves, who has lead responsibility among the Heads of Government for regional air and sea transport.
Just recently, in speaking ahead of the St. Kitts and Nevis summit in support of regional airline, LIAT, Gonsalves had expressed some of his concerns over challenges to be overcome to better facilitate intra-regional movement of people with less hassle  at ports of entry as well as at less cost.
Neighbouring Guyana and Suriname, as mainland territories of CARICOM, do not face the problems that are much more common and relevant to Community nationals of island states like Trinidad and Tobago and the Eastern Caribbean.
Nevertheless,  the administration of President Bharrat Jagdeo is very much aware, as expressed in public statements, of the disadvantages as well as reports of discrimination often faced by Guyanese travellers within the region.
In this context, while it continues to consider the economic feasibility of  the likely re-introduction of a national airline, it has moved with comparative speed in granting permission for low-fare carrier, REDJet to operate commercial flights into and from Guyana.
It is to be hoped that the current CARICOM summit will move the idea of a regional fast-ferry service between the Eastern Carribbean and Trinidad and Tobago from rhetoric to action, as well as being forthcoming in new and enlightened approaches in dealing with regional air transport problems.
We should know from the end-of-summit communiqué expected to be released tomorrow.