Representatives of the private sector in Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) are in agreement that there should be a more coherent maritime transportation system which would create a reliable, affordable and high integrity service for intra-regional movement of cargo and passengers.
The regional private sector representatives, along with representatives from the Chambers of Industry and Commerce, the Air and Seaport Authority, the OECS shipping stakeholders, the ECCB, and the OECS Secretariat met on 3 July via video conference to focus on sea transportation in the region. During the meeting, presentations on the subject were made by: Mr Gerard Bergasse, President of the Saint Lucia Chamber of Industry and Commerce; Mr Keats Compton, Saint Lucia Consul General to Martinique on trade matters; Mr Neville Wade, Shipping and Logistics; and Mr Clarvis Joseph, Director of the OECS Distribution and Transportation Company Ltd (ODTC). The issues addressed in the presentations included: the cost of maritime transportation, the types of vessels and capacity, and the utilisation of port facilities.
The participants at the meeting identified opportunities for the sea transportation sub-sector. In that regard, the Honourable Sir K Dwight Venner, Governor of the ECCB, highlighted the urgency of operationalising the OECS Business Council to facilitate the discussions.
The meetings of the ECCU Private Sector Representatives are held monthly via videoconference.
