Roger Hinds, chief executive officer of Transocean Shipping Limited is the new president of the Shipping Association of Jamaica (SAJ).

Hinds, who previously served as vice-president for the last three years, was un-animously elected president during the SAJ's 70th annual general meeting (AGM) held at the association's Fourth Avenues offices recently.

Hinds who has 25 years of experience in the shipping industry, succeeds Michael Bernard who did not seek re-election. The AGM also saw Kim Clarke, managing director of Maritime and Transport Services being elected vice- president and two new members, Denise Lyn Fatt, managing director of Freight Handlers Limited and Evroy Johnson, chief financial officer of Carib Star Limited elected to the Managing Committee of the SAJ.

Major player

A major player on the association's Agents Committee, Lyn Fatt, who holds a post-graduate degree in professional shipping, brings 33 years of experience to the table. Johnson, a member of the Association of Accounting Technicians, also holds an MBA and brings to the table 14 years of experience in the shipping industry.

Johnson and Lyn Fatt join the distinguished group of shipping executives who have led the SAJ over the years. They are Michael Bernard, imme-diate past president of the SAJ; Harry Maragh, chairman and CEO of Lannaman and Morris Group; Grantley Stephenson, chairman and CEO of Kingston Wharves Limited; Charles Johnston, executive chairman, Jamaica Freight and Shipping; Joseph Lowe, group operations manager, Maritime and Transport Services; Corah-Ann Robertson Sylvester, managing director, Seaboard Jamaica Limited and Trevor Riley, general manager of the SAJ.

Bernard, in handing over the presidency, thanked the members of the SAJ who had elected him president for three years. He described the managing committee as a dedicated group of business people who have put the interests of the shipping industry above those of their respective businesses and who continue to provide leadership at a time when the industry is critically poised.

Well managed individual

"I turn over to my successor, the helm of an organisation that is well managed, well structured and prepared for the challenges ahead," Bernard said, pledging his support to the new president.

As the new president of the SAJ, Hinds said he hoped to redefine the relevance of the association during these current challenging economic times. "We have to look at the economy and try to forge a new direction for the association and build on the excellent foundation laid by past presidents and members of the managing committee of the SAJ," Hinds said.

Hinds also gave his commitment that he and his team would work with the Government to realise the vision of making Jamaica a new logistics and distribution hub, to add to the growth of the shipping industry.