After years of developmental delays and financing challenges, the long-anticipated regional ferry service connecting Caribbean nations is poised for potential realization in 2026. The Small Business Association (SBA) has emerged as a pivotal supporter of the Connect Caribe initiative, positioning the project as a cornerstone of its strategic export development agenda.
Dr. Lynette Holder, CEO of the SBA, confirmed the association’s formal involvement as a logistics management coordinator through its subsidiary agency. The ferry system, conceived as a multipurpose platform prioritizing trade facilitation, initially targets routes between Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, and Suriname, with subsequent expansion planned for Saint Lucia and other Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) territories.
The SBA has proactively identified export-ready enterprises—including agricultural processors, small-scale manufacturers, and service providers—while establishing connections with strategic partners in destination markets. This preparatory work aligns with the association’s 2025-2028 strategic framework, which emphasizes export development and sustainability as fundamental pillars.
Despite demonstrated readiness among small businesses and identified vessels, Ambassador Andre Thomas, Chairman and CEO of Connect Caribe, acknowledges that securing adequate capital remains the primary obstacle. The project requires approximately $50 million in funding, with recent negotiations involving the Caribbean Development Bank aimed at accelerating financial resolution.
Thomas confirmed infrastructure development has commenced and stakeholder engagement continues actively, though he characterized the process as ‘comparable to climbing Mount Everest’ in complexity. The initiative has garnered strong support from business leaders including Lalu Vaswani, Chairman of the BCCI Customs and Trade Facilitation Committee, who emphasized the ferry’s potential to revolutionize regional trade dynamics by enabling smaller-scale shipments that bypass container vessel requirements.
The proposed service addresses critical gaps in Caribbean transportation infrastructure, potentially reducing dependence on costly air freight and limited shipping options while fostering intra-regional commerce among smaller enterprises unable to leverage conventional container-based export models.