High costs hamper Caribbean shipping industry.

High costs and long port delays are major problems for Caribbean nations. Costs associated with importing a 20-foot container range from $1,860 in Haiti to $756 in St. Kitts and Nevis, according to the World Bank. In Jamaica, the cost is $1,350; in the Dominican Republic, it's $1,015. By comparison, the costs in Singapore come to $367.

The costs include all the fees associated with completing the procedures to import the goods, from the time the vessel arrives at the port to the shipment's delivery to the factory warehouse, such as costs for documents, administrative fees for customs clearance and technical control, terminal handling charges and inland transport. They …