By Admin. Updated 6:55 p.m., Tuesday, December 9, 2025, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
Prime Minister Dr. Godwin Friday has directed the reopening of the Campden Park Container Port from t, citing readiness delays at the newly constructed multi-million-dollar Kingstown Modern Port. The announcement followed a site visit by Dr. Friday and several ministers to the state-of-the-art facility, where he acknowledged that “a great deal of readiness work remains to be completed.” The decision aims to ensure that personsreceive their barrels in time for Christmas and merchants can stock their stores during the peak holiday season.
Since its commissioning in October 2025, the Kingstown Modern Port has faced mounting criticism. Cargo bottlenecks slowed clearance of barrels and containers, leaving personsanxious about holiday shipments.
For decades, the Campden Park Container Port stood as St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ primary cargo hub, handling barrels, containers, and bulk imports for businesses across the country. Its closure in late October 2025 marked the end of an era, as then Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves confirmed that operations would be shifted to the newly constructed Kingstown Modern Port. The decision was framed as part of a broader strategy to centralize cargo operations at the modernized facility, which was designed to be climate-resilient, more efficient, and capable of handling larger volumes of trade. Gonsalves further indicated that Campden Park would not be abandoned but repurposed for other uses, including potential community or emergency management functions. This plan aligned with the then government’s wider push to modernize national infrastructure and reduce duplication of port services.
The Kingstown Modern Port was designed to be a climate-resilient, trade-enhancing facility, but several expected operations have not yet materialized. Efficiency gains in cargo turnaround and customs clearance remain unrealized due to incomplete systems.
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