PM Kamla proposes fast ferry service to link TT to EC states

PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar on her arrival in St Kitts

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar proposed to CARICOM leaders on Friday that the regional grouping should establish a fast ferry service linking Trinidad and Tobago with the Eastn Caribbean.

She was speaking in St Kitts, where she is attending the 32nd annual Caricom summit, which got underway Thursday night.

It's her second full summit. Last year in Jamaica she put regional states on notice that Trinidad and Tobago could no longer be the region's "ATM".

In the opening speeches Thursday night leaders urged Trinidad and Tobago to provide strong support for the regional integration movement.

Persad-Bissessar's initial response on her arrival Friday was to acknowledge the concerns and issues raised by her regional counterparts.

“One of the things I want to raise has to do with a fast ferry link within the Eastern Caribbean and T&T, which will bring us closer together as we try to improve upon the integration movement," Persad-Bissessar said. "I don’t think we’ve done enough.”

She said the ferry would assist in the movement of people, goods and trade. She added that it could begin at no cost to the government since a foreign company has expressed an interest in operating such a service with Trinidad and Tobagoo as its base.

Persad-Bissessasr also spoke about the need to do more for the region. “I think we need to continue to partner with our Caricom neighbours,' she said, noting that the region forms a large trading bloc. "If we intend to grow the economy, we have to continue to assist partners where we can,' she said. “So we’ll see what we can do."

She added, “As we say, if Caricom rises, we will rise."

Persad-Bissessar told reporters her government would examine investment in the regional Petroleum Fund when the government prepares its 2012 budget.