Members of CARICOM To Acquire Cargo Planes as Mottley Warns of Renewed Threats to Region
July 8, 2025 | Jamaica Live News Desk
Montego Bay, Jamaica | July 7, 2025 —
At least two CARICOM member states have begun the process of acquiring cargo planes to improve the regional movement of goods — a critical step in addressing long-standing trade and supply chain challenges within the Caribbean.
The announcement came during the opening ceremony of the 49th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM, held Sunday evening (July 6) in Montego Bay, St James.
Barbados Prime Minister and Former CARICOM Chair, the Honourable Mia Amor Mottley, hailed the initiative as “a bold and necessary move” toward regional self-reliance. She emphasized that air freight connectivity is vital to building resilience and enhancing food and goods security across the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME).
“We are finally beginning to act in our own interest,” Mottley stated. “This step toward regional cargo aviation is a game-changer in breaking the bottlenecks that have long hindered inter-island trade and distribution.”
Mia Mottley also urged the 49th Regular Meeting of the CARICOM Heads of Government in Montego Bay, Jamaica, the need for renewed efforts to revitalize inter-island regional ferry services in the Caribbean. She suggested that the meeting would include a private sector presentation on this topic. Mottley emphasized that it is crucial for member states to demonstrate the political will to finally “democratise travel through ships yet again in this region”.
Historical Context:
Mottley reminded attendees that past examples, such as the use of the “Federal Maple and Federal Palm” decades ago, demonstrate the feasibility of inter-island shipping for travel. She lamented that the region has become overly reliant on air travel, which can be more expensive and less convenient than sea travel for island nations.
Looking Ahead:
Mottley’s comments underline the potential benefits of improved maritime connectivity within the Caribbean, which could facilitate trade, tourism, and easier movement of people within the region. She also mentioned that at least two CARICOM member states are exploring the acquisition of cargo planes, indicating a broader focus on enhancing regional transportation options
But Mottley’s remarks went beyond economics. In a sobering warning to Caribbean leaders, she raised concerns about rising global instability and what she described as the “erosion of a rules-based international order.”
“This is the first real threat to our region since independence,” she said. “The notion that others may want to conquer or control Caribbean territories again is not some far-off fiction. It is a real and present possibility when multilateral systems begin to break down.”
She urged the region to urgently invest in its own digital infrastructure, including satellite technology, to generate and control Caribbean-based content and data.
“Why should we continue to rely on others to see ourselves, to tell our stories, or to monitor our own territories?” Mottley questioned. “We must have our own satellites and our own capacity to secure our narrative and sovereignty.”
The 49th CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting ended this week with a strong focus on regional security, transportation, climate resilience, and economic empowerment.
Prime Minister of Jamaica and current CARICOM Chair, the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, deliver a keynote address outlining his vision for a safer, more economically integrated, and technologically empowered Caribbean.