Connect Caribe, a private-sector-led ferry service, is on course to begin operations in the last quarter of this year, with plans to create significant employment opportunities across the region.
The announcement came during a stakeholder consultation forum at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, where Chairman and CEO Ambassador Andre Thomas briefed reporters.
Ambassador Thomas confirmed that preparations are progressing as scheduled: “We have taken some significant steps. We have actually identified the ships. Obviously, the ships have to go through ship inspections, and we are much closer to determining the exact date that we would want to launch, but it’s going to be in the last quarter of this year.”
The initiative, launched in January, aims to streamline maritime operations and promote trade facilitation across the Caribbean. Ambassador Thomas revealed that the project’s first phase would generate 185 jobs, with recruitment efforts already underway. “We have a recruitment fair tomorrow [Wednesday], and I think we have 450 people actually coming. So that’s good; we have already begun to interview people, and we’re going to have to do this… because it’s the headquarters, but we also have to recruit across the region as well,” he explained.
The consultation forum served as a platform to refine the business model and address policy-related logistical issues. Ambassador Thomas emphasised the importance of collaboration with CARICOM’s private sector organisation: “We want it to deliver optimally. We want microbusinesses; we want small businesses, middle-sized businesses, and conglomerates. We want families. We want people who are travelling. We want the region to be impacted by it.”
Regarding the development of service platforms, Dr Thomas announced: “The cargo platform is really ready to go. In fact, we’re now presenting proprietary software that we’ve developed to be able to deliver this across the region.”
He also highlighted progress in e-commerce solutions: “We actually have a panel that’s totally dedicated to that because today we have some solutions that are going to be shared… In fact, one of them, you’re actually going to see the first carried dollar transaction being done actually going into a bank account.”
The CEO expressed satisfaction with stakeholder engagement, describing it as “wonderful” and “excellent”. He emphasised the importance of demystifying the project for all involved. “The key players that need to be in this room are in this room, and it’s our plan to do this across the Caribbean, every country, every major country that we’re going to.”
Using a football analogy to describe the logistical challenge ahead for the firm, Ambassador Thomas explained: “We are a box-to-box midfield company; we are for the transition. Get the ball to the attacking third; that’s what we’re doing. Box to box, okay midfield. There are other players involved, so what we’re seeking to do is bring all the other players into the room, and all the other players are in the room. And so that’s what we’re seeking to do,” he explained, using a soccer analogy to describe the collaborative effort required.”
(RG)
