THE FREIGHT Forwarding Industry recorded a successful year 2000. While we welcome the growth we achieved, we are disturbed by the fact that the growth the industry saw, resulted from the migration of Jamaicans and not national productivity.
Exports from the productive sectors continued to decline and we have to implement necessary systems and procedures, to reverse this downward trend.
Success should be as a result of attitude, self-awareness, civic pride, teamwork and effective communication. Last year also ended without the implementation of the customs modernisation programme, pre-clearance prior to the arrival of vessels and centralisation for processing trade. These are among the positive changes that the Freight Forwarders Association of Jamaica (FFAJ) would like to see come into effect this year.
We must therefore begin the new millennium with the conviction that we are willing to participate in eliminating the factors that continue to hamper production in Jamaica. I speak of the high rate of crime and violence and the bureaucratic red tape that stifles productivity. Let us start with ourselves.
We, the Freight Forwarders Association of Jamaica publicly declare our willingness to work with the various agencies of the public and private sector with an aim to facilitating change. We wish for all Jamaican a crime free and once again friendly society.
Beverly Johnson-Green,
President,
Freight Forwarders Association
of Jamaica
