Yacht Services Association of Trinidad & Tobago  

 

 

PO Box 2852 TT Post, Chaguaramas

Tel:  (868) 634 4938  Fax:  (868) 634 2160

E-Mail: info@ysatt.org  or  ysatt@tstt.net.tt

 

  

 

 

 

Introduction & Objectives  I  Methodology  I  Background Information  I  SWOT Analysis  I  Price Comparisons - Consume Goods

Price Comparisons - Marine Related  I  Non Fiscal Comparisons  I  Trinidad's Competitive Position  I  Recommendations  I  Next Steps

Conclusions  I  Annex I - List of Consumer Goods Prices  I  Annex II - List of Persons, Publications & Websites Consulted

 

 

Trinidad’s competitive positioning - Main project findings:

 

Trinidad can be identified as being in the low to medium range in terms of costs in comparison to the other countries surveyed.  Tobago, due to its lack of infrastructure, services available and facilities, is uncompetitive in comparison to the rest of the countries surveyed.  There are no prices for the marine relates costs available for comparison in Tobago

 

There are several areas for comparison that may be addressed.  This study does not seek to examine these areas in depth, however, there ought to be a further study that will provide information on the following:

 

  • Health and Safety practices for the Industry

  • Availability and quality of labour

  • Government support to the industry (fiscal as well as non monetary incentives and support)

  • Environmental standards and certifications

  • Existence of a Marine Trade Association and its effectiveness as the representative body for the Industry

  • Availability of land space for expansion of the Industry

  • Crime and its effect on the individual countries

  • Capacity of yachts in the various facilities

 

 

One of the major disadvantages we have here in Trinidad and Tobago is the lack of over the counter VAT free purchases.  Additionally, although the yacht in transit mechanism is in place for goods imported for yacht – related repairs, the lack of duty free over the counter sales may be hurting the retail side of the local marine industry.  This statement is worth pursuing in a separate study.

 

 

Blue Flag Certification:

Of the countries in this study, Jamaica as well as Puerto Rico have marinas that are Blue Flag certified.  This is a non monetary incentive for cruisers to consider their marinas as being certified by Blue Flag guarantees a certain level of environmental compliance is adhered to at all time in these locations.

 

Yacht Services/ Marine Trade Organisations:

 

Almost all of the countries surveyed have a marine trades association relating to the needs of the yacht services industry.  Marine trade associations typically aim to develop the local maine industry through dialogue with key stakeholders, Government as well as the cruisers.  A list of the Marine trades organisations are listed below in Table 7.  Note that Trinidad is the home to both the Yacht Services Association of Trinidad and Tobago as well as the regional body, the Caribbean Marine Association.

 

Table 7

 

Marine Trades Associations in the Caribbean

 

Dominica Dominica Watersport Association
St Maarten St. Maarten Marine Trades Association
Grenada Marine and Yachting Association of Grenada
Puerto Rico None found
Curacao Curacao Marine Trades Association
St Lucia Marine Industries Association of St. Lucia
Antigua Antigua and Barbuda Marine Trades Association
Jamaica None
St Vincent St Vincent and the Grenadines Recreational Marine Association
BVI Marine Association of the British Virgin Islands
Martinique None
Ft Lauderdale Marine Industries of South Florida
St Kitts None found
Trinidad

Yacht Services Association of Trinidad and Tobago, Caribbean Marine Association
Margarita None found