No word from CTM on proposed SVG-St. Lucia ferry service as January ends

By Admin. Updated 5:35 p.m., Friday, January 27, 2023, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).

There is no word from Caribbean Travel Movement (CTM) on the status of a proposed ferry service between St. Vincent and St. Lucia that was supposed to begin in the middle of January 2023.

The service was announced by the company via a press release on December 29, 2022.

The company had said that a Bequia Express vessel was supposed to be used for the proposed service, but Bequia Express distanced itself from the CTM-announced proposal.

The company, in an email response to questions about Bequia Express’ distancing said it was to pursue different boat options.

After that announcement about pursuing different boat options, media houses in St. Lucia announced that the St. Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA) said that no permission was given to Caribbean Travel Movement to berth in St. Lucia in relation to any ferry service between St. Lucia and St. Vincent.

According to a Loop News, a senior SLASPA said, “We have no knowledge of this; as far as we know the company made inquiries regarding logistics etc but there was no confirmation or agreement so this is news to us.”

On January 16, 2023, at 12:40 p.m., One News SVG emailed Caribbean Travel Movement asking for updates on the status of the proposed service.

The questions were:

What is the status of the announced new ferry service between St. Lucia and St. Vincent?

Is it still happening? If yes, when? 

If no, why? 

Has anyone made a booking yet for this service that was supposed to start during the second week of January?

The email added: “We are trying to do a follow-up story. Any information would be appreciated.”

Up to press time, the company did not respond to the email.