Sharing is caring!

I am taking this opportunity to leave the following opportunity here for you to think about, it concerns the Local Antillean Tourism. Why not A First?

In line of the Crowd Profit Sharing opportunity Stichting Marlin Yard (www.marlinyard.org) will soon be launching its Eco Shares Program and sub program called SENG (https://seng.marlinyard.org). Anyone can join these programs if you want to be effective and be part of our social mission to invest and execute Social Development Goals.  

In the meantime, our Think Tank Team together with BAPS (https://bapssxm.com) and RVO (https://www.rvo.nl) are working on projects that will encourage Caribbean islanders to form collaborative initiatives, cross finance and support each other while creating sustainable business between the islands. This means sharing more and combining business sectors beyond the island borders and supporting these initiatives to become definite facilities for locals.

Tourism

Tourism in general is a perfect example to dwell on for now. We already know this sector is the #1 income for the Caribbean islands. However, tourism as we knew it, before the Covid-19 Pandemic, is now being moulded to match the growing demand of “eco and blue” tourism. But what I am missing in this picture is the subject “Local Tourism”. A subject derived from the so called “local migration” among the Caribbean community which is an ongoing matter for centuries. I am sure there are many ideas about this subject, but I haven’t seen initiatives that promotes and or sustains local tourism opportunities, or any that exists. If there are such, then please let me know. 

In the meantime, I’m introducing the following opportunity for you to think about and to become part of…

I hereby revive the topic “Ferry Services between the ABC and SSS islands”.

For now I call it TAFS – The Antillean Ferry Services  – an initiative that combines local tourism with logistical empowerment between the islands Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Sint Eustatius and Saba. It’s an initiative where mentioned islands work together instead of competing or working against each other.

TAFS will supply reliable and affordable roll on – roll off and passenger (RO/PAX) boat connection between the ABC islands and the SSS islands. An initiative where quality of service, good service and sustainable business operations are paramount. TAFS will be owned by the people* of mentioned islands and other users of the ferry service through Eco Shares. TAFS is a not-for-profit initiative and invests primarily in safety, quality and continuity. Our interest in the local traveller – as in the local tourist – is paramount in this initiative.

TAFS aims to provide comfort, convenience and good value for money for the traveller. The intention is to boost mentioned island economies with a fleet of ferries of different types to match island visitor capacities.

Ferry travellers will be people visiting for the day, or for labour, or for holidays. It’s fleet capacity transports:

• Passengers on foot
• Passengers with bicycles
• Passengers with own vehicles (motorbike, car, minivan) 
• Commercial passengers (Trucks, Trailers, freight)
• Commercial holiday passengers (Touring Busses)

On board there will be facilities such as restaurants, kiosks, cafeterias, restrooms, shops, cabins for meetings, cabins for emergency (first aid, ambulance) situations, lounge and deck seats.

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TAFS aims to create maritime education opportunities, at least 100 job vacancies, many business opportunities for entrepreneurs on board and on land. It is mandatory for this initiative to be owned by the people of the Dutch Caribbean islands who will enjoy yearly dividends and incentives to use TAFS.

*445200 Antilleans: 283 935 Antilleans on the islands (2009 statistics) Nederlandse Antillen – Wikipedia) and 161 265 Antilleans living in the Netherlands (2019 statistics) Antillianen in Nederland – Wikipedia]

Do get in touch if you are interested to be part of this, even better if you have already been involved with a similar initiative.

Cee Marlin
Think Tanker – Founder
Stichting Marlin Yard