CMU honours Johnston, Bells award scholarship
The Caribbean Maritime University held its second annual graduation exercise at the Jamaica Conference Centre on November 8. The university used the occasion to honour stalwarts in the shipping industry, most notably awarding two honorary doctoral degrees, one to a member of the Shipping Association of Jamaica (SAJ) .
Charles Johnston, a member of the Shipping Association of Jamaica's managing committee, was awarded the doctor of science in international shipping honoris causa. The citation, which accompanied the award, reads (in part):
"Based on his tremendous contribution to Jamaica's private sector and the impact of these contributions to the shipping industry, his experience and expertise in shipping and logistics and his legacy of sound business management, the CMU is proud to confer upon Charles Johnston, the degree of Doctor of Science in International Shipping, honoris causa, with all the rights and privileges pertaining thereto."
Another highlight of the graduation came as father and son shipping industry veterans Robert and Stephen Bell conferred the first award for outstanding performance port management to Gavae Burton. Burton won the award from a field of candidates who were shortlisted and then interviewed.
The award called the Robert Bell Award, aims to build capacity in the industry by conferring an annual scholarship to a current student of logistics, specializing in port management. The amount of the award will cover tuition. Messrs Bell are both members of the Shipping Association of Jamaica.