SAJ streamlines to enhance relevance
Published: Tuesday | January 13, 2009
Labour Minister Pearnel Charles (left) shares a moment with union delegates, Jermaine Dacres (centre) and Newton Brown, after a special Joint Industrial Council (JIC) meeting held at the SAJ on December 17, 2008 at the Shipping Association of Jamaica's Fourth Avenue offices.
The Shipping Association of Jamaica (SAJ) is reconstituting the leadership of several of its standing committees and revamping one to deliver value-added services to its members and other stakeholders involved in trade. Newly elected President Roger Hinds announced last week that several industry stalwarts had agreed to serve as chairpersons of these committees.
These committees are: the Industrial Park Committee, the Industrial Relations Committee, the Wharf and Port Users Committee, the Finance Committee and the Agents Committee. The committees were established and revamped to fulfil Hinds' vision as he seeks to steer the SAJ in a new direction, based on the changing operational climate.
Chairman of Jamaica Freight and Shipping Ltd, Charles Johnston, will head the newly established Industrial Park Committee, which is charged with improving the Newport West community, leading to the establishment of the Industrial Park.
Several meetings have been held with stakeholders within the shipping industry, as well as members of the Government. Work on the roads and drains in the Newport West community will begin in early February.
Immediate past president of the SAJ, Michael Bernard, will chair the Finance Committee, which provides oversight of the financial management of the SAJ and its subsidiaries.
Industrial harmony
Kim Clarke, Managing Director of Maritime and Transport Group and Vice- President of the SAJ, will chair the Industrial Relations Committee, through which the SAJ negotiates terms and conditions of employment on the Port of Kingston and seeks to deepen its cooperation with the Unions to maintain the industrial harmony at Port Bustamante.
Newly elected member of the SAJ's Managing Committee, Denise Lyn Fatt will head up the Agents' Committee. Lyn Fatt, Managing Director of Freight Handlers Limited, was elected to the managing committee at the SAJ's annual general meeting held on November 28, 2008. She replaces Donovan Martin, who did not seek re-election.
The main objective of the Agents' Committee is to provide a forum for Agents to discuss issues relating to the operations of agents. It will also handle the relationship with agencies that affect shipping operations. These include Jamaica Customs and the Terminal operating companies. The Committee has an ongoing liaison with Jamaica Customs. The SAJ has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Jamaica Customs.
Veteran Shipping executive, Joseph Lowe, Group Operations Manager for Maritime and Transport Limited has been named chair of the newly revamped Wharf and Port Users Committee. Lowe, who has served in the shipping industry since 1963, says he feels honoured to have been asked to chair the committee.
The way forward
"My first order of the day will be to meet with the new SAJ president, Roger Hinds, to discuss the way forward, before making contact with the various stakeholders who were a part of the committee in the past," Lowe said.
"I will draw on my years of experience and work with committee members to ensure that all their issues are addressed in a timely manner," Lowe added.
The Wharf and Port Users Committee brings together various stakeholder groups involved in trade. Members comprise representatives from the wharf companies, freight forwarders, customs brokers, exporters, hauliers, port security, Customs Department and other entities allied to the shipping industry.
The committee was established to ensure that all port users receive the best possible service in a safe and secure environment, through improved operational efficiency on the port.
Children from Reddie's Place of Safety enjoy the outdoors with staff of the Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ), during the MAJ's annual Christmas treat held at Hope Gardens. The children were feted with balloon art, a meal and gifts. Reddie's Place of Safety was adopted five years ago by the MAJ's social club. Throughout the year, gift items of food and toiletries are presented to the home and a special treat held at Christmas.
Andrea Cameron (left, standing) administrative assistant at the Shipping Association of Jamaica (SAJ) and recent recipient of the SAJ's long service award, and Deonne Morris (right, standing) human resource and development assistant at the SAJ, serve students at the Marcus Garvey Basic School, during the SAJ's annual Christmas Treat held on December 12, 2008.
cruise & outports schedule
| vessel | Port | Date |
GATEWAY SHIPPING JA LTD (Formerly Grace Kennedy and Co (Shipping) Ltd) Liberty of the Seas | Montego Bay | 13/01 |
| Vision of the Seas | Montego Bay | 16/01 |
| Century | Ocho Rios | 19/01 |
JAMAICA FREIGHT AND SHIPPING MV Seaboard Voyager | Montego Bay | 13/01 |
| MV Seaboard Sun | Montego bay | 16/01 |
LANNAMAN AND MORRIS (SHIPPING) LTD Carnival Triumph | Ocho Rios | 13/01 |
| Conquest | Montego Bay | 14/01 |
| Carnival Freedom | Ocho Rios | 15/01 |
| Sea Princess | Montego Bay | 17/01 |
| Oceana | Ocho Rios | 18/01 |
| Ruby Princess | Ocho Rios | 19/01 |
SEABOARD JAMAICA MV Seaboard Voyager | Montego Bay | 13/01 |
| MV Seaboard Sun | Montego bay | 16/01 |
SEAFREIGHT JAMAICA LIMITED Herrentor | Montego Bay | 19/01
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