Portland's potential as a shipping parish could be revived with the export of new products, Charles Johnston, chairman of Jamaica Producers Group, has said.

These new products, Johnston noted, include the export of sand, stone and aggregate, resources which are not found in many other Caribbean islands and Jamaica has the advantage to capitalise on the demand for these products internationally.

"The parish has one of the best harbours and this could be the next stage of development for the parish. Port Antonio has had great days and will have great days again," Johnston said.

He was speaking at the launch of the Shipping Association of Jamaica's exhibition of photographs and artefacts, held at the Portland Parish Library on February 27.

Mayor of Port Antonio Floyd Patterson concurred, stating that the parish has the potential to make a turnaround. Reflecting on Portland's glory days in shipping, Patterson said, "I look forward to the turn as the people of Portland revitalise tourism and trade in the parish."

SAJ President Roger Hinds, in delivering the association's vision for 2009 and beyond, said that the foundation laid by men such as Captain Lorenzo Baker through the export of bananas from that parish in the 1800s should be built on to restore the parish to its former glory.

"While it is regrettable that the banana trade is no longer the heartbeat of shipping in Portland, we must continue to create the opportunities to restore this great parish to its pre-eminence in the maritime industry, as much in agriculture and tourism," Hinds said. He pledged the association's support to work with partners to help Portland to realise its true potential.

The SAJ's exhibition highlights the last seven decades of shipping through the eyes of the association. The exhibition will be on display in St Ann at the parish library from March 12 to 18.