Regional transportation in the spotlight

A Barbados diplomat says the Caribbean is facing a serious problem with air transportation since the demise of regional airline, LIAT and the blow to the sector brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ambassador to CARICOM, David Comissiong says the matter along with sea transportation have the attention of regional heads and were discussed at the last meeting of Caribbean heads in Trinidad and Tobago.

He says the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has come to the table and is working on a solution.

CARICOM is expected to receive a report from the CDB soon which outlines recommendations on how to treat the issue of interregional travel.

Ambassador Comissiong sees a role for the independent countries of the bloc to play in assisting with the decolonisation of the region.

He believes independent states don’t fully take into account that much of the Caribbean remains colonised.

Aside from the British territory of Montserrat which is a full member of CARICOM, Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, and Turks and Caicos Islands all hold associate member status of CARICOM.

According to Ambassador Comissiong, Caribbean leaders have taken steps to improve the relationship with these five associate members.

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