00:00 In making the revelation, Guyana's President Dr. Irfan Ali said the ferry
00:05 will allow the movement of containers and passengers with the potential to
00:10 boost trade relations and advance food security efforts. Rudy Rampersad, director
00:16 on the board of the TTMA and RAM's logistics VP of regional initiatives
00:21 tells TV6 it is a step in the right direction.
00:25 Simply moving a container between Trinidad and Barbados sometimes has to go up to the US and come back down.
00:32 With this service, that movement could happen in two to three days, direct and indirect service,
00:38 at probably a fraction of the cost of moving that container previously.
00:42 So it's something that is much needed, but something that I think the private sector will very much welcome.
00:48 He says it has the potential to reduce imports from other countries and boost regional markets.
00:56 And now we are also allowing the opportunity to move carry-on goods, goods that are manufactured within the carry-on,
01:04 to give those guys, those manufacturers, those businesses, an opportunity to expand into new markets
01:10 of our already quality product that is being produced here in the carry-on.
01:16 The TTMA executive also believes this initiative will play a major role in advancing food security for the region
01:24 as we move into the future. The issue of food sustainability is also one of the topics of priority
01:31 at this year's CARICOM Heads of Government meeting.
01:34 I know Mr. Lefanade has been speaking about food security 2025.
01:40 And this project is a big move in the right direction for food security.
01:46 Food security, the biggest challenge with food security in the Caribbean is logistics.
01:52 Moving the right goods and services around within the CARICOM at the right price.
01:58 And this service will provide just exactly that.
02:02 Ram Pasad, who specializes in logistics and regional initiatives,
02:06 explains that things are shaping up well on other island ports in terms of management facilities.
02:13 We've seen a lot of improvements in terms of the software delivery that is being used on the port
02:19 to allow for fast efficiency, for processing of truckers, processing of documentation,
02:25 allowing access of where it contains the city within the port.
02:29 It's allowing that type of movement.
02:32 So we're seeing that the right move with Assecuta will manifest online.
02:38 So a lot of right moves are happening at the same time with the port facilities
02:43 pushed by the governments to ensure that as we move into this new phase,
02:49 we also move with the right processes, the right technology.
02:53 Nicole M. Romany, TV6 News.
02:56 [BLANK_AUDIO]
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