Transportation of people, goods sees Guyana, T&T looking to establish ferry facility

The possibility of establishing a ferry facility as an experiment to move people, goods and services between the two territories is being explored, with Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago making dynamic moves to strengthen collaboration in several areas, specifically agriculture.

President, Irfaan Ali made the announcement Sunday, during a joint press conference with Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Rowley, at State House. “Transportation and logistics, agri-food system, agri-business, movement of goods and services are all important areas,” Ali disclosed.

“We have decided that we are going to drive the agenda, we are going to drive the policy direction, and once that commitment is there, the opportunities can be mind-blowing,” he continued. It was revealed that an overwhelmingly impressive experience in the food sector is what President Ali envisions. It was noted that the fact that CARICOM has established certain targets and timeframe in achieving those, demonstrate seriousness.

“We cannot address any issues unless we create the platform, the vehicle that would allow us to do that,” Dr. Ali noted. The President revealed that Guyana and the twin island republic have shared a long and glorious history of working together, and the efforts will continue in pushing the agenda, which will realise the aspiration of the two countries.

“I am very confident that once we stick to the task that is before us, once our Ministers of Foreign Affairs move together in a projectised manner, looking at outcomes and working under critical path, ensuring that wherever there is a slip on that critical path it is corrected, we can only achieve success,” Ali stressed.  

Meanwhile, Prime Minister, Dr. Rowley stressed that in the future there will be tremendous cooperation between the young people of the two countries and that training will be provided in several areas.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was inked between the CARICOM nations earlier Sunday, which, among other things, addresses non-tariff barriers and other hindrances to the flow of goods and services.