The Shipping Association of Jamaica's series of Lunch and Learn seminars got off to a great start last Wednesday with presentations by Beverley Johnson-Green (left), president of the Freight Forwarders Association of Jamaica, and Donovan Wignall (third left), president of the Custom Brokers Association of Jamaica. Also in photo are SAJ President Michael Bernard (second left), Donavan Martin (fourth left), chairman of the SAJ's Agents' Committee, and Sacha Vaccianna (at podium), research, projects and communication executive of the SAJ. - CONTRIBUTED
THE SHIPPING Association of Jamaica (SAJ) launched its 'Lunch and Learn' series of seminars and workshops last Wednesday in the conference room of its offices located in Newport West.
Organised by the SAJ's Agents' Committee, the seminars are aimed at raising the awareness of the maritime community and its various stakeholders on developments in the local and international shipping industry.
The topic of the first Lunch and Learn seminar was 'New Trends in the Logistics Supply Chain - The Role and Function of Freight Forwarders and Customs Brokers', with presentation by Beverley Johnson-Green, president of the Freight Forwarders Association of Jamaica, and Donovan Wignall, president of the Customs Brokers Association of Jamaica. The seminar proved to be a resounding success, with many SAJ members coming out to partake in both lunch and hearty discussion.
In launching the Lunch and Learn seminars, Michael Bernard, president of the SAJ, stated that all persons involved in shipping need to keep themselves updated on new developments and expand their knowledge and view of the sector. He noted that the past 25 years have seen dramatic changes in the maritime industry.
DRIVING FORCES
"Globalisation and the quest to become more efficient have been the driving forces fuelling this change and the transformation is continuing - with far-reaching effects on our operations and how we do business," the SAJ president said.
Mr. Bernard told the participants in the seminar: "Shipping is a composite industry, with each of our individual companies and operations dependent on others for smooth efficiency. Let us, therefore, use these Lunch and Learn seminars to learn more about each other and how we can work together to transform challenges into opportunities."
Donavan Martin, chairman of the SAJ's Agents' Committee, stated that upcoming Lunch and Learn seminars will cover the topics:
* 'A First-Class Culture for a First-Class Maritime Industry: Developments in Port and Terminal Operations';
* 'The CARICOM Single Market and Economy - Implications for the Jamaican Workforce';
* 'Customs 101: Customs as Facilitator of Jamaica's Imports and Exports'.
The SAJ's first Lunch and Learn seminar was sponsored by Shipping Services Stevedoring Limited.
