Following the return to work of dockworkers along the US East and Gulf Coasts, the flow of imported goods into Antigua and Barbuda has resumed. However, Port Manager Darwin Telemaque has highlighted the unpredictable nature of trade to the Caribbean, exacerbated by global supply chain challenges. These challenges include strikes, conflicts, and logistical issues, further intensified by geopolitical tensions worldwide.
Telemaque has called for a collective effort to decrease the Caribbean's dependence on South Florida for imports. He referenced the "25 by 25" initiative by Caricom leaders, aimed at reducing the region's food import bill by 25 percent by 2025, through the Caricom Agri-Food Systems Strategy. Despite this initiative, Telemaque stressed the need for more concrete actions to meet the set targets within the given timeframe.
Statistics from the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank indicate a rise in Antigua and Barbuda's food import bill, underscoring the urgency to diversify import sources. Telemaque has suggested leveraging the Port of Kingston in Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago's logistics capabilities as alternatives to mitigate the risks of over-reliance on South Florida. He emphasized Trinidad's potential in contributing to a more diversified and resilient Caribbean supply chain.
Telemaque's remarks underscore the necessity for Caricom member states to explore new supply chain options and promote intra-regional trade, aiming to secure a more stable economic future for the Caribbean.
Source: Observer