Michael Bernard (right), newly-elected president of the Shipping Association of Jamaica (SAJ), receives a congratulatory handshake from outgoing President Harry Maragh after the SAJ's 67th annual general meeting held last week. Looking on are Roger Hinds (second right), new vice-president of the SAJ and Trevor Riley, general manager of the SAJ. Having served three consecutive years as SAJ president, Maragh did not seek re-election. - CONTRIBUTED
MICHAEL BERNARD, director of Shipping Services (Stevedoring) Limited, was nominated unopposed to be the next president of the Shipping Association of Jamaica (SAJ) at the organisation's 67th annual general meeting held last Friday, in the SAJ conference room in Newport West.
Harry Maragh, chairman and CEO of Lannaman & Morris Shipping Limited, did not seek re-election after serving in the post of SAJ president for the past three consecutive years.
The SAJ president-elect, who takes office on January 1, has 34 years of experience in the shipping industry and has been serving on the association's managing committee for eight years and as vice-president for the past three years. Mr. Bernard also holds the posts of president of the Marine & Allied Industries Cooperative Credit Union, board member of the Caribbean Maritime Institute and he is a Gold Member of the International Association of Business Leaders.
In his acceptance remarks, Mr. Bernard thanked the members of the SAJ for their expressions of confidence in his abilities and thanked outgoing President Harry Maragh for his inspiring leadership over the past three years.
The incoming president said that major areas of focus for his administration would be: continued strengthening of the role of the Joint Industrial Council; establishment of an Industrial Park for the Port Community and the promotion of greater interaction and dialogue among members.
PRESIDENT'S REPORT
Earlier in the meeting, Harry Maragh delivered his President's Report that gave an overview of the year's activities. He pointed out that:
"In response to the manning needs of the trans-shipment business, we have had to increase the number of port workers from 178 at the time the MoU was signed, to the current level of 223. Our conservative forecast is that we will need to employ at least another 100 men by April 2006 in response to the demands of this growing business."
With regard to the SAJ's response to the impact of globalisation on the local shipping industry, Mr. Maragh said that the association spent the last five years looking at its structure and constitution, with a view to ensuring that it has the correct configuration to meet the challenge of the future.
He continued:
"We began our transformation programme with a view to ensuring that we have the appropriate skillset throughout the organisation and I am satisfied that we have achieved fundamental organisational change without disruption. We have a new management team in place with an improved structure to deliver better results for all our stakeholders.
"We have made conscientious recruitment and selection in some critical areas of operation and are managing better with less administrative cost as a percentage of our overall operational costs."
Among other SAJ achievements for the year 2005 were:
Development of a proposal for the Newport West Industrial Park.
Completion of the manuscript of the History of the SAJ for publication in 2006.
Election to the Executive Committee of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica.
Revival of the Shipping Industry Awards banquet, after 10 years, to honour stalwarts and top performers the shipping industry.
Staging of the inaugural Shipping Industry Benefit Golf Tournament that was hugely successful in raising funds for the Caribbean Maritime Institute.
Launch of the SAJ's Corporate Video.
Continued leadership role in the Caribbean Shipping Association.
Submission of an industry position on the Caribbean Single Market and Economy.
The Shipping Association of Jamaica was founded in 1939 and has recorded steady growth in its membership spanning shipping agents, terminal operators, stevedoring companies, hauliers, NVOCCs, ship owners and operators, and providers of business support services to the port community.
Registered as a trade union, one of the primary functions of the association is to regulate the daily supply and management of certain categories of labour on the port. The SAJ also acts on behalf of its members to advance industrial relations, training, security, information technology and to establish uniform standards and rates of remuneration for port labour within the maritime sector.
SAJ MANAGING COMMITTEE - 2006
The Managing Committee for the Shipping Association of Jamaica for the year 2006 comprises:
Michael Bernard President
Roger Hinds Vice-president
Harry Maragh Immediate past president
Grantley Stephenson
Charles Johnston
Kim Clarke
Donavan Martin
Corah-Ann Robertson-Sylvester (also president of the CSA).
Paula Pinnock
Joseph Lowe.
