The newly launched Saint Lucia Chamber of Shipping is positioning itself as the unifying force for what its leadership describes as a fragmented and under-coordinated maritime industry.
Chief Executive Officer Tariq Khan says the Chamber was formed with one clear objective: to bring every moving part of the maritime ecosystem under one strategic umbrella and establish frameworks that encourage national development. “The maritime sector has been operating in silos for too long,” Khan stated. “Shipping lines, customs brokers, truckers, port operators, and other maritime stakeholders have been functioning independently. What we are doing is uniting all these entities into one cohesive maritime sector.”
Khan says fragmentation has hampered efficiency, slowed progress, and weakened Saint Lucia’s ability to compete regionally and internationally. “When we come together, we can address the key issues affecting shipping, tourism, yachting, fishing, and trade. We can identify the bottlenecks, develop strategic solutions, and get them implemented,” he said.
The Chamber officially launched in February 2026 after becoming operational in November 2025. According to Khan, the urgency behind its formation is tied to international compliance pressures. “The International Maritime Organization conducted an audit of Saint Lucia’s maritime sector and identified key deficiencies that needed to be addressed,” he explained. “Another audit is approaching, and not enough has been fixed. Shipping is global, and for Saint Lucia to be recognized internationally, we must comply.”
The CEO emphasized that the Chamber is not merely a representative body, but an advocacy engine designed to influence policy and reform systems.
“As a unified body with government endorsement and international consultancy support, we can effectively move policy and implement change,” he said.
Membership, Khan insists, is central to the Chamber’s success, not simply for financial contributions, but for sector co-operation, influence and impact. “It goes beyond membership fees,” he stated. “Yes, fees help operationally. But more importantly, membership gives us strength. The more stakeholders we bring together, the more leverage we have to create real change.”
He pointed to safety concerns among small operators, particularly fishermen, as one example where collective advocacy can make a difference. “Fishermen leave shore daily without proper navigational equipment. If something happens, they are untraceable. Through our exposure to suppliers and international networks, we can negotiate discounts or even secure grants to equip them properly and safeguard lives” he added. “Our next step is getting everyone informed and fully on board. We have government endorsement. We have international consultants ready to support. But without our local nationals joining and collaborating, progress will be limited.”
Khan stated that interest since the official launch has been strong, with pre-registrations recorded even before formal public rollout. “The response has been very good and, in many cases, overwhelming,” he said. “Sometimes people just need to be re-engaged, but the interest is there.”
Beyond national reform, Khan made it clear that the Chamber’s ambitions extend regionally and internationally.
“Shipping is global. We must work with our regional counterparts and international partners. The Chamber exists to ensure Saint Lucia meets international standards and strengthens its position in global trade.”
Looking ahead, Khan says the Chamber’s short, medium, and long-term objective remains singular and direct: unify, reform, and professionalize the maritime industry. “We will identify the problems, develop strategic frameworks, and get them implemented by the relevant authorities,” he declared. “There are lots of issues that can be addressed, and we have the willpower to get it done.”
With the maritime sector underpinning trade, tourism, fisheries, and economic growth, the Saint Lucia Chamber of Shipping, through its CEO is signaling that business as usual is no longer acceptable, and that coordinated reform is now on its national agenda.
