BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – Eastern Caribbean leaders want an efficient transportation system to sustain tourism and to food security.
During their joint meeting with the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) Monetary Council the Authority mandated the St. Lucia-based OECS Secretariat to explore with the Regional Councils of Martinique and Guadeloupe opportunities for expanding the fast ferry service which currently includes Dominica and St. Lucia to other OECS member countries.
Member States will also continue to monitor a fast ferry initiative being led by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago which is being developed to service OECS Member States and agreed to work towards the establishment of the OECS Distribution and Transportation Company (ODTC) mandated by the Monetary Council and spearheaded by the ECCB.
According to the communiqué following the meeting, member governments should consider partnering with the private sector for the ownership of vessels for the development of a viable sea transportation sector.
The meeting agreed to the establishment of a regional Regulatory Commission to oversee both air and sea transportation and agreed that there was need for greater collaboration between the regional airlines to improve the efficiency and reduce cost of regional travel.
The meeting acknowledged the deficiencies which currently exist in the movement of people and goods across the region and the importance of an efficient transportation system to the sustainability of the tourism sector and to food security.
