– Calls for urgent, investment-driven actions to address them

-by Jordan Alkins

President Dr. Irfaan Ali has identified five challenges confronting Caribbean shipping, and is calling for urgent, investment-driven action to address them. 

He was speaking at the opening ceremony of the Caribbean Shipping Association’s 56th Annual General Meeting, Conference and Exhibition in Georgetown.

The conference brought together senior executives, government officials, port authorities, shipping lines, logistics providers and technology leaders from across the region.

Addressing the gathering, President Ali warned that the industry is operating at a time of real risk, with fuel prices, maritime insurance and global shipping delays all uncertain. 

He listed five challenges the region must confront.

”High shipping costs and the expense of regional connectivity, uneven port infrastructure, weak inter-Caribbean trade, the threat of climate-related disasters, geopolitical instability,” he said.
The President cited a May 2026 IMF report showing Caribbean shipping costs exceed global averages, raising living costs and hurting businesses. 

He said regional trade faces costly, infrequent shipping, regulatory differences and non-tariff barriers, calling for hurricane-resistant ports, stronger fuel storage and diversified supplies to protect energy security.

“That is why I believe that this meeting can develop an urgent policy document, backed by the Caribbean Development Bank, backed by the IDB, backed by IDB Invest, backed by all our funding agencies and available capital. Because when you look at the ecosystem, what is required immediately now is investment, capital investment,” the president explained.

The four-day conference runs until October 28 at the Guyana Marriott Hotel under the theme “Building a more connected, resilient, and competitive Caribbean.” 

Over 450 maritime stakeholders, policymakers, senior executives and industry experts will engage in critical discussions over the next few days.