GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) — Guyana’s government says it is working with Barbados to create a seamless trade and transport platform that could become a model for deepening the regional integration movement.

Guyanese President Irfaan Ali, addressing a Shipping Association of Guyana networking and business event on Tuesday night, said that “we want to lead with Barbados to set an example for the rest of the region, in which we have pre-clearance between Barbados and Guyana”.

Ali said this would entail a common transport platform integrating the markets of Guyana and Barbados and that in essence, clearance for shipping will only be done once, either in Guyana or Barbados.

“So when you clear at one end, you pick up at the other end,” President Ali said, noting that this push for greater ease of trade and removal of regional barriers is essential to improving Guyana’s competitiveness.

“We are hoping to work with all countries who are ready to move forward with us on this,” Ali told the event, adding that to support this vision, a robust investment in port modernisation is already underway in the country, pointing to the port developments on the West Bank of the Demerara River, Parika, East Bank Essequibo, and in Charity on the Essequibo Coast.

“Our economy is growing and will continue to grow. With growth comes greater demand for imports and greater volume of exports…We are advancing plans to deepen the Demerara Harbour. This is critical. The depth of the harbour must match the scale of vessels in modern, global trade. Deep waters will allow larger ships to dock, reduce shipping costs and make Guyana more attractive as a regional hub.”

Ali said the two modern ports with cold storage facilities are being developed in Parika and Charity and that these facilities will support export to Caribbean markets.

In Region One, the government has already acquired a new ocean-going ferry from Greece to meet growing demands in the production of agricultural products.

“We have opportunities in regional shipping [with] great potential in connecting regions one and two more directly to Caribbean markets,” President Ali said, adding that the government is currently working with the United States to strengthen Guyana’s port security system, making it internationally trusted and compliant with modern regulatory frameworks.

“Our port facility is important. We are working with the US on building out our port security system to be strong and trusted. That is important because the international markets need to trust our ports.

“The international market needs to trust our ports, and we have to invest in the security system supported by modern regulatory legislation,” he added.