Upturn Funds Caribbean in partnership with Pleion Group Inc. will be unveiling the new private sector-led ferry company which will provide the Caribbean with solutions aimed at revolutionizing maritime transportation.
In a release yesterday, Upturn Funds informed that the launching event of the Caribbean Ferry Ser-vice Company will be held on Tuesday, January 23rd at the Wisdom Center Auditorium, Roebuck Street Bridgetown, Barba-dos.
Chief Communications Officer of Upturn Funds Jennifer Highland told Stabroek News yesterday all she can say at this point is that the ferry service is “a private sector-led joint venture”, which involves private consortiums in the Caribbean.
According to the press release, Upturn Funds said that in collaboration with its partners, the company is thrilled to share the groundbreaking joint venture that has facilitated the establishment of a company that will pioneer the ferry service tailored to the unique needs of the Caribbean region.
It noted that “This strategic partner promises to bring about a new era of connectivity and accessibility, positively impacting both local communities and regional economies and opening of new markets for regional entrepreneurs, whilst helping to close the gap that has prevented real Caribbean integration”.
The release noted that the press briefing slated for Tuesday will feature key representatives from Upturn Funds Caribbean and other partners, who will provide insights into the vision, objectives, and anticipated outcomes of this joint venture.
The key players in this joint venture are Chief Executive Officer and Founder of The Caribbean Israel Leadership Coalition (CLIC) Dr. Andre Thomas, Chairman of UPTURN FUNDS New York, Raphael DeAngelis, CEO of Windward Ferries Limited
Tore Torsteinson, Presi-dent of Ramps Logistics Rudy Rampersad and Founder of the Anthony Hinkson Consultancy, Anthony Hinkson.
Ramps Logistics has had a significant presence in Guyana for a number of years
Trinidadian Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley on Wednesday confirmed that Guyana, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago have agreed to a ferry service company.
The Prime Minister made this disclosure at the opening of the Phoenix Park Industrial Estate in Point Lisas, Central Trinidad where he detailed that routes between the three Caribbean states and the Galleons Passage will be facilitated by a vessel from the Twin Island Republic.
During a live video on Wednesday at the commissioning of Phoenix Park industrial estate, Rowley said “On Thursday [January 11th,2023] the Cabinet will sign off on this decision and only this morning, the Minister of Transportation was told to ready the Galleons Passage for the inaugural trip as soon as that documentation is ready and the vessel is ready”.
Stabroek News on January 6th of this year reported that President Irfaan Ali announced that the Governments of Guyana, Barbados and the twin-island republic of Trinidad and Tobago had formed a new ferry company that will introduce a passenger and cargo ferry system.
He made this revelation while addressing a gathering at the contract signing for the US$35 million Mackenzie/Wismar Bridge in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice).
The Head of State said that through this company, the ferry system is expected to transport passengers and cargo to Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados.
“That will open up massive opportunities,” he said to those gathered at the contract signing event.
He added, “We have to get this going and then we have to work on expanding”.
At the event on Wednesday, the Trinidadian PM informed those present that the decision to introduce the new ferry service was “driven by the need to move raw materials and fresh produce from the producing areas to the consumption and manufacturing areas” within the subzone of the Caribbean that includes these three countries.
Rowley said this would aid in the advancement of CARICOM’s regional food security agenda by 2025.
The PM added that this undertaking would support job creation and allow consumers to enjoy more reasonable food prices.
On May 23rd, 2022 Stabroek News reported that Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago were on the brink of experimenting with the setting up of a ferry service between the two countries to transport people and cargo.
The announcement was made by President Ali during a press conference hosted at State House with Trinidad’s Prime Minister on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that was signed for cooperation in a number of areas.
“As we speak to you now, we are already exploring the possibility of having a cargo plus ferry facility as an experiment between Guyana and Trinidad moving people and goods and services… We cannot address any issues unless we create a platform, the vehicle that will allow us to do that and this MoU does that,” President Ali said during opening remarks on the memorandum between the two countries.
Ali stated that the experiment by both governments signals the seriousness and commitment to move in the direction of achieving the goals on the CARICOM agenda including slashing the food import bill of the region by 25% by 2025.
