Setting Sail — A Closer Look at Connect Caribe
October 25th, 2024
Vice President of Regional Initiatives, Ramps Logistics Limited
With the launch of Connect Caribe in Barbados earlier this year, a significant step was taken to make the ease of movement across the Caribbean a reality. This privately led fast ferry service will transport cargo and passengers across the Caribbean region, with stops in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.
Transforming Caribbean Connectivity
Trinidad-based Ramps Logistics, the largest logistics company in the region, is one of the partners behind Connect Caribe, along with Pleion Group Inc/Upturn Funds Caribbean, Windward Ferries Limited, JS Cruises and Tours, and Hinkson Computer Solutions Inc.
The enterprise, with its three ferries, is set to revolutionise the transportation of cargo and passengers in the Caribbean. It promises to do so swiftly and at an affordable cost, making it an ideal system for shipping Caribbean manufactured and produced goods. This venture will complement existing imports, opening new regional trade possibilities.
“We have amazing products in the Caribbean,” Rampersad asserts. The company envisions fresh produce from the various islands, fresh fish, and more being transported by the ferry service. “Instead of the hotels buying canned pineapples,” he illustrates, “you could buy those same pineapples fresh from Guyana.”
Catalysing Growth in the Region
The first phase of the project will focus on cargo. In the second phase, passengers will be able to travel to the various ports of call in comfort. Rampersad expounds that time spent on board will be an experience— it will allow passengers to access accommodation, entertainment, restaurants, shopping, and even workspaces.
The service is designed to bolster the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Single Market and Economy (CSME). “If we can create proper connectivity within the CARICOM,” observes Rampersad, “we can increase the Gross Domestic Product, GDP, by about 5% over five years.” He adds, “It will be the single largest increase in GDP in the region based on one single project.”
Connect Caribe’s focus extends beyond transforming the transportation of goods and people. Creating market and job opportunities is also key to the company’s vision. Rampersad outlines the services that will generate employment: transportation, trucking, storage, handling and re-packaging, and more. “We will create opportunities for more sustainable jobs and careers in the Caribbean.”
They also want to provide training for emerging business owners. “We’re going to offer a suite of different services geared towards helping improve existing businesses in the Caribbean,” he reveals. These services include educational seminars and events. “We will be helping young entrepreneurs and smaller businesses to understand the market, enter it, and give intra-regional trade more viability.”
They are also committed to helping Caribbean goods achieve international quality standards. Rampersad notes the importance of products abiding by the trade requirements for ingredients, packaging, and more, and the company hopes to develop this knowledge. The Connect Caribe team believes this approach will help improve products, services, and delivery from the region.
Charting a Sustainable Course
They are optimistic about the future, although they acknowledge that some challenges may lie ahead. For example, each island nation has different laws that must be followed. However, Rampersad notes that governments and ministries have been responsive, and consultations have gone very well.
As they proceed, the Connect Caribe team is strategising for the future. The third phase of development focuses on improvements and sustainability. Ensuring that the service embraces green practices is a priority. “We are looking at different vessel types that could operate in the region with low sulphur,” Rampersad explains. They are considering liquified natural gas (LNG) and methanol fuel options. They are also examining the possibility of an online payment system which would allow clients to pay in the currency of their country of origin.
The end result could significantly impact the export of Caribbean goods and the outlook for entering regional and international markets. As Rampersad observes, this project will be instrumental in proving that the region is more than just ‘sand, sea, and sun’.
By Dixie-Ann Belle
