Major concerns over high shipping cost between BVI and Guyana
The government has expressed concern over the high cost of shipping goods between the BVI and Guyana after several government officials and members of the private sector returned from a recent trade mission in the South American country.
Junior Minister for Agriculture, Dr Karl Dawson, said the high cost of shipping goods between the two countries is something the BVI government needs to examine closely.
Dr Dawson, while arguing that the trade mission held tremendous promise for the territory’s agriculture and fisheries sectors, said the issue of shipping infrastructure, logistics and a shipping network are all central to the question of trade.
“In addition to our interest here in the BVI, we also would have to be teaming it with the interest across the OECS because when we look at it holistically… it means that we have to be buying more stuff from each other, more products from each other, and that should, we hope, open up more opportunities for trade between Guyana, other members of the OECS and of course the BVI,” Dr Dawson said.
The Junior Minister expressed hope that the prospect of increased trade between the countries will, in turn, spur innovation in the shipping industry so that costs can ultimately be lowered for everyone.
Meanwhile, Deputy Premier and Labour Minister, Lorna Smith, pointed out that both sugar and sand — commodities which are shipped from Guyana in large quantities — are important to the BVI’s economy.
Smith said a merchant that imports sand from Guyana told her his costs usually amount to a million dollars. “It’s the shipping. When you add the shipping to that, it’s more than the cost of the sand itself,” Smith said.
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SO SHE GONE GUYANA TO SEE ABOUT HER BROTHER’S SAND BUSINESS? NEXT IT WILL BE ABOUT HER OTHER BROTHER’S MEDICAL BUSINESS
So does this mean that we will become full members of CARICOM so we can ship into other CARICOM countries duty-free??
Besides expensive freight there are duties due on imports into full member countries so shipping anything from here will price the products out of whatever market exists!
What is with our new obsession for Guyana? I mean is the freight cost between our countries really a matter of national concern? Could we instead focus on more pressing issues like how we deal with our garbage, the awful state of our roads, continual power outages, cheesy internet… C’mon govt. Get focussed.
The fact that this seems to be a new revelation to the political elite just goes to show just how deeply you dwell in your respective closets!
The BVI has always been expensive to ship to, and has gotten much worse over the last decade!
Guyana makes no sense to trade in bulk with because those very same shipping costs make any savings prohibitive! Nearly everyone in these islands that deal with economic issues have seen this problem the moment you opened your mouth about trading with Guyana. It’s not a bad country at all, but the logic of Guyana being a trading partner makes no sense when the Dominican Republic has all the same offerings right next door (without having Oil).
This BVI politician’s obsession with Guyana will disappear when the UK assumes control in 2024.
but Guyana can help fix the bvi roads
First off it is expensive to ship anything between the Caribbean period. This has nothing to do with Guyana alone. Caribbean countries need to come together and work with the major shipping copies to get these costs down.
Sand is so cheap in Guyana, its practically free.
I know shipping cost is high but 260.00 for 3-yard sand is amount to thief. the thing literally grows in Guyana. Guyanese only pay for loading and transport.
ask Guyana for help fix our infrastructure. am sure everyone that went enjoys Guyana’s infrastructure. Those people knows how to build road that last.
Simply put, CARICOM messed up. After so many years you still cannot ship anything across the Caribbean Except for the OECS, with their small cargo vessels, unless it goes through Miami. That is why there is so little trade between CARICOM members. They just talk a lot with no meaningful solutions. Why don’t CARICOM invest in a fleet of 3 large cargo vessels the can truly facilitate interregional trade at a reasonable cost. Dominican Republic across the way have an abundance of fresh fruits, vegetable and provision that should be reaching across the Caribbean, but there is no establish shipping link.
Dealing with the garbage and other priority areas requires financial and other resources. The trade mission to Guyana is a step in the right direction toward stimulating and building the economy.
@Shipping
I completely agree with you. I also say to the spies reading the blogs from Governor’s House and London….how about UK thinks about setting up a better shipping route from UK to Caribbean, serving BVI, Anguilla etc and the Commonwealth nations? How about some softer diplomacy? How about some creative economic expansion post-Brexit? The only time you send us any help it is due to a crisis (hurricane, Covid etc) how about you think about supporting us to make life better for all?
LOL You finally starting to see the BS huh. The BVI is not a real Place.
Can ship the sand..like his dad did back in the day.. A long with the bails.bet most never know how him start up.