Post by ferryfast admin on Jul 8, 2011 10:47:47 GMT -5
Kamla proposes fast ferry
Published: Sat, 2011-07-02 22:30
Gail Alexander
guardian.co.tt/news/2011/07/02/kamla-proposes-fast-ferry
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, left, and Trade and Industry Minister Stephen Cadiz arrive in St Kitts, along with their aides for the Caricom summit yesterday.
ST KITTS: Amid regional calls for T&T and other “Big Four” regional states to “drive, pull or push” Caricom, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has responded with a fast ferry proposal to link the Eastern Caribbean and T&T. Persad-Bissessar disclosed the ferry plan on arrival in St Kitts yesterday where she is attending the 32nd annual Caricom summit. The summit started off on Thursday night with a strong note of expectation that T&T would return to the fore “in pushing the regional agenda on all fronts.” At last year’s Caricom summit in Jamaica, Persad-Bissessar, fresh from election victory and looking to plan the PP Government’s path, had put Caricom on notice that T&T was not the ATM card it had been regarded as in the past.
Some of her positions at that summit also earned T&T regional criticism. Yesterday, on her second summit, Persad-Bissessar arrived at the Robert Bradshaw Airport, after Thursday night’s opening ceremony where speeches from St Vincent leadership, particularly, stressed the need for T&T’s strong support in the regional movement. On arrival yesterday, Persad-Bissessar told reporters that she had been briefed on the regional statements which had been made so far and would “take them on board.”
She said she had certain matters to raise at the summit. Persad-Bissessar, who arrived at 10.50 am via an Air Jamaica flight, said it was the first time an Air Jamaica flight had stopped there and such arrangements, for instance, could assist the regional air transport aspect.
On sea transport, Persad-Bissessar said: “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...I don’t think we’ve done enough.” Persad-Bissessar said the ferry plan would particularly assist movement of people, goods and trade. “Such a project could assist, so it will be something we want to raise...It will cost no money to Government,” she added. She said there was a proposal before the Government from a foreign company. “They’re asking to use T&T as their home base and they’re looking at US$15 to go to Barbados first of all...It’s a project we can put to the heads (of governments),” Persad-Bissessar said.
Asked whether T&T could give more within the region, she said: “I think we need to continue to partner with our Caricom neighbours—the region forms a large bloc of our trade and if we intend to grow the economy, we have to continue to assist partners where we can. “So we’ll see what we can do...they have issues at home anyhow,” she added. On a call by St Vincent, particularly for T&T (and other Big Four states) to propel Caricom, Persad-Bissessar said: “I don’t think we would have a difficulty with that.
“As we say, if Caricom rises, we will rise...we depend on them—it’s a symbiotic relationship for all of us in the Caribbean not only because of historical and cultural roots, it just makes sense that we partner together,” she said.
Persad-Bissessar confirmed that the energy pipeline idea between T&T and the Eastern Caribbean was also being examined. “That is a matter for consideration...there has been no decision on it,” she said.
The pipeline idea had been initiated during the previous administration’s work with Caricom. On regional concerns expressed at the opening ceremony regarding free movement of Caricom nationals, Persad- Bissessar said T&T had laws for this. “We’re saying it must be reciprocal,” she said. “Those states that open up, we open up as well...as other nations open their doors, we open ours as well.”
She said funding for the regional Petroleum Fund would also be examined as the Government prepared its 2012 budget, adding that monies were allocated for this in the 2011 budget.
After her arrival, Persad-Bissessar went on to join Caricom leaders in their first caucus, where an atmosphere of expectation hangs over T&T, following opening ceremony statements. At Thursday’s opening, St Vincent Foreign Affairs Minister Douglas Slater, delivering a speech on behalf of Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, made the pitch for focused leadership from the “Big Four”—T&T, Guyana, Jamaica and Barbados. Slater said difficulties in the international political economy and their “acute manifestations” ought to prompt greater, not lesser, integration. But he noted: “Rather than strengthen our regional integration movement, some Caricom members have tended to opt for nationalist or even chauvinistic solutions.”
He said only the Organisation of the Eastern Caribbean states had sought to deepen its integration framework. Noting a “mood of gloom” at collective Caricom leadership, Slater called for the summit to remove the pall. Slater said members must acknowledge that Caricom “demands” focused leadership from the Big Four. “It is simply that the Big Four for various reasons must in a co-ordinated way, drive, pull or push the regional juggernaut,” he said. In each of the states, Slater said, it was arguable that domestic considerations were possibly a limitation on optimal regional activity. “If that had been the case in any of these countries, the region can no longer afford the luxury of such relative non engagement,” he said.
“Indeed, the relative non-engagement by any of the Big Four inexorably leads to the diminution of engagement by others. “It was perhaps inevitable that the change of Government in T&T in May 2010 would have resulted in a greater emphasis on domestic rather than regional matters. “I feel sure that the T&T Government which is populated by committed regionalists would again be at the fore in pushing the regional agenda on all fronts. “The simple truth is that the line between the national and the regional is blurred to the point of non-existence...Globalisation and the altered architecture of the international political economy have caused this to be so.
“Let us face certain facts squarely...No credible, sustainable regional solution to the challenges of Clico and British American Insurance Company is possible without the active involvement of the T&T Government.” Slater said the same holds for a host of issues including trade, regional governance, regional security, regional air/sea transport, energy, health and education. He added that the leadership of T&T and of the Big Four “does not in any way mean a diminution of the importance on leaderships of other Caricom member states.”
_______________________
A Fast Ferry? Yes, Caricom,Yes!
www.sknvibes.com/news/newsdetails.cfm/32578
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – The news of a proposal by Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar that she would seek support from her regional colleagues for a fast ferry system that she believes would further strengthen the integration movement, was welcome news indeed.
There is no need for a feasibility study on this proposal. Ever since the demise of the Federal boats – the Federal Maple and the Federal Palm – there have been urgent calls for their replacement.
Just two weeks ago small businessmen in St. Kitts stated that “transportation” was a major problem in getting their goods to other Caricom countries and this lack of transportation also hampered their ability to import goods from their Caricom neighbours as well.
(See –Small businesses still having a hard time, June 21, 2011)
Persad Bissessar, who arrived here to attend the 32nd Heads of Government Conference, told reporters that a foreign interest, which she did not name, was prepared to launch the ferry using Port of Spain as the base.
“It will bring us closer together, it will help the integration movement, it will assist in moving people across the region,” she added. She said the ferry, if it became operational, could cost travellers US$15 to travel from Trinidad and Tobago to Barbados and later to other Eastern Caribbean countries.
Rapid support for this proposal came from Hon. Stevenson King, Prime Minister of St. Lucia. He told reporters: “It’s indeed a good idea, very encouraging. I think we’ve taken much too long to get to that stage. Regional integration cannot be successful without transportation, be it air or sea.”
He further added: "It will give the opportunity to move not only people, but goods and services for the kind of trade that is necessary and seems to be diminishing in the region. There were vessels which plied the area providing businessmen and hucksters who traded and developed themselves that way.”
Caricom leaders, as well as the rank and file of Caricom nationals are acutely aware that Caricom must come with new strategies to justify its existence to the common man. None other than George Lamming, noted Barbadian author, referred to a gaping disconnect between the intellectuals of Caricom and the majority of the ordinary folk.
This same issue was well expressed by President of Guyana, Bharrat Jagdeo, during this 32nd Caricom Summit. He said: “The only way we can change the perception of CARICOM is not that it is vibrant and relevant, it is not just to do a public relations job, but the more ordinary people can feel regional initiative impacting on their lives...then they will start to say Caricom is working”
The new drive to ensure that Caricom is now “results-oriented” and that it must move with a sense of urgency is most welcome. Providing a fast ferry to serve the Caricom region will satisfy Caricom nationals and leaders in all of these ways.
A fast ferry? Yes, Caricom, yes!
Published: Sat, 2011-07-02 22:30
Gail Alexander
guardian.co.tt/news/2011/07/02/kamla-proposes-fast-ferry
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, left, and Trade and Industry Minister Stephen Cadiz arrive in St Kitts, along with their aides for the Caricom summit yesterday.
ST KITTS: Amid regional calls for T&T and other “Big Four” regional states to “drive, pull or push” Caricom, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has responded with a fast ferry proposal to link the Eastern Caribbean and T&T. Persad-Bissessar disclosed the ferry plan on arrival in St Kitts yesterday where she is attending the 32nd annual Caricom summit. The summit started off on Thursday night with a strong note of expectation that T&T would return to the fore “in pushing the regional agenda on all fronts.” At last year’s Caricom summit in Jamaica, Persad-Bissessar, fresh from election victory and looking to plan the PP Government’s path, had put Caricom on notice that T&T was not the ATM card it had been regarded as in the past.
Some of her positions at that summit also earned T&T regional criticism. Yesterday, on her second summit, Persad-Bissessar arrived at the Robert Bradshaw Airport, after Thursday night’s opening ceremony where speeches from St Vincent leadership, particularly, stressed the need for T&T’s strong support in the regional movement. On arrival yesterday, Persad-Bissessar told reporters that she had been briefed on the regional statements which had been made so far and would “take them on board.”
She said she had certain matters to raise at the summit. Persad-Bissessar, who arrived at 10.50 am via an Air Jamaica flight, said it was the first time an Air Jamaica flight had stopped there and such arrangements, for instance, could assist the regional air transport aspect.
On sea transport, Persad-Bissessar said: “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...I don’t think we’ve done enough.” Persad-Bissessar said the ferry plan would particularly assist movement of people, goods and trade. “Such a project could assist, so it will be something we want to raise...It will cost no money to Government,” she added. She said there was a proposal before the Government from a foreign company. “They’re asking to use T&T as their home base and they’re looking at US$15 to go to Barbados first of all...It’s a project we can put to the heads (of governments),” Persad-Bissessar said.
Asked whether T&T could give more within the region, she said: “I think we need to continue to partner with our Caricom neighbours—the region forms a large bloc of our trade and if we intend to grow the economy, we have to continue to assist partners where we can. “So we’ll see what we can do...they have issues at home anyhow,” she added. On a call by St Vincent, particularly for T&T (and other Big Four states) to propel Caricom, Persad-Bissessar said: “I don’t think we would have a difficulty with that.
“As we say, if Caricom rises, we will rise...we depend on them—it’s a symbiotic relationship for all of us in the Caribbean not only because of historical and cultural roots, it just makes sense that we partner together,” she said.
Persad-Bissessar confirmed that the energy pipeline idea between T&T and the Eastern Caribbean was also being examined. “That is a matter for consideration...there has been no decision on it,” she said.
The pipeline idea had been initiated during the previous administration’s work with Caricom. On regional concerns expressed at the opening ceremony regarding free movement of Caricom nationals, Persad- Bissessar said T&T had laws for this. “We’re saying it must be reciprocal,” she said. “Those states that open up, we open up as well...as other nations open their doors, we open ours as well.”
She said funding for the regional Petroleum Fund would also be examined as the Government prepared its 2012 budget, adding that monies were allocated for this in the 2011 budget.
After her arrival, Persad-Bissessar went on to join Caricom leaders in their first caucus, where an atmosphere of expectation hangs over T&T, following opening ceremony statements. At Thursday’s opening, St Vincent Foreign Affairs Minister Douglas Slater, delivering a speech on behalf of Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, made the pitch for focused leadership from the “Big Four”—T&T, Guyana, Jamaica and Barbados. Slater said difficulties in the international political economy and their “acute manifestations” ought to prompt greater, not lesser, integration. But he noted: “Rather than strengthen our regional integration movement, some Caricom members have tended to opt for nationalist or even chauvinistic solutions.”
He said only the Organisation of the Eastern Caribbean states had sought to deepen its integration framework. Noting a “mood of gloom” at collective Caricom leadership, Slater called for the summit to remove the pall. Slater said members must acknowledge that Caricom “demands” focused leadership from the Big Four. “It is simply that the Big Four for various reasons must in a co-ordinated way, drive, pull or push the regional juggernaut,” he said. In each of the states, Slater said, it was arguable that domestic considerations were possibly a limitation on optimal regional activity. “If that had been the case in any of these countries, the region can no longer afford the luxury of such relative non engagement,” he said.
“Indeed, the relative non-engagement by any of the Big Four inexorably leads to the diminution of engagement by others. “It was perhaps inevitable that the change of Government in T&T in May 2010 would have resulted in a greater emphasis on domestic rather than regional matters. “I feel sure that the T&T Government which is populated by committed regionalists would again be at the fore in pushing the regional agenda on all fronts. “The simple truth is that the line between the national and the regional is blurred to the point of non-existence...Globalisation and the altered architecture of the international political economy have caused this to be so.
“Let us face certain facts squarely...No credible, sustainable regional solution to the challenges of Clico and British American Insurance Company is possible without the active involvement of the T&T Government.” Slater said the same holds for a host of issues including trade, regional governance, regional security, regional air/sea transport, energy, health and education. He added that the leadership of T&T and of the Big Four “does not in any way mean a diminution of the importance on leaderships of other Caricom member states.”
_______________________
A Fast Ferry? Yes, Caricom,Yes!
www.sknvibes.com/news/newsdetails.cfm/32578
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – The news of a proposal by Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar that she would seek support from her regional colleagues for a fast ferry system that she believes would further strengthen the integration movement, was welcome news indeed.
There is no need for a feasibility study on this proposal. Ever since the demise of the Federal boats – the Federal Maple and the Federal Palm – there have been urgent calls for their replacement.
Just two weeks ago small businessmen in St. Kitts stated that “transportation” was a major problem in getting their goods to other Caricom countries and this lack of transportation also hampered their ability to import goods from their Caricom neighbours as well.
(See –Small businesses still having a hard time, June 21, 2011)
Persad Bissessar, who arrived here to attend the 32nd Heads of Government Conference, told reporters that a foreign interest, which she did not name, was prepared to launch the ferry using Port of Spain as the base.
“It will bring us closer together, it will help the integration movement, it will assist in moving people across the region,” she added. She said the ferry, if it became operational, could cost travellers US$15 to travel from Trinidad and Tobago to Barbados and later to other Eastern Caribbean countries.
Rapid support for this proposal came from Hon. Stevenson King, Prime Minister of St. Lucia. He told reporters: “It’s indeed a good idea, very encouraging. I think we’ve taken much too long to get to that stage. Regional integration cannot be successful without transportation, be it air or sea.”
He further added: "It will give the opportunity to move not only people, but goods and services for the kind of trade that is necessary and seems to be diminishing in the region. There were vessels which plied the area providing businessmen and hucksters who traded and developed themselves that way.”
Caricom leaders, as well as the rank and file of Caricom nationals are acutely aware that Caricom must come with new strategies to justify its existence to the common man. None other than George Lamming, noted Barbadian author, referred to a gaping disconnect between the intellectuals of Caricom and the majority of the ordinary folk.
This same issue was well expressed by President of Guyana, Bharrat Jagdeo, during this 32nd Caricom Summit. He said: “The only way we can change the perception of CARICOM is not that it is vibrant and relevant, it is not just to do a public relations job, but the more ordinary people can feel regional initiative impacting on their lives...then they will start to say Caricom is working”
The new drive to ensure that Caricom is now “results-oriented” and that it must move with a sense of urgency is most welcome. Providing a fast ferry to serve the Caricom region will satisfy Caricom nationals and leaders in all of these ways.
A fast ferry? Yes, Caricom, yes!