Roger Hinds, re-elected president of the Shipping Association of Jamaica (SAJ), has pledged his commitment to continue to put forward the needs of the Newport West (NPW) shipping community.

Hinds reaffirmed his commitment to members of the SAJ during the 73rd annual general meeting of the SAJ on November 25.

The SAJ president thanked the members of the association for the confidence they have placed in him and the managing team. He pointed out that some items at the top of the agenda for the team are preparing Jamaica for the challenges that are to come from the expansion of the Panama Canal; preparing the SAJ to serve the expanded shipping industry; and, on a more domestic level, advocating for the completion of the improvement of the road works and drains in the NPW business community.

Both Hinds and vice-president Kim Clarke were re-elected to serve in their respective positions on the managing committee (MC) of the SAJ. Michael Bernard, as past president, was returned to serve as a member of the MC of the SAJ as per the constitution, while the remaining seven members were voted from a group of 10 nominated members. They are Charles Johnston, Grantley Stephenson, Harry Maragh, Corah-Ann Robertson-Sylvester, Joe Lowe, Denise Lyn Fatt and Evroy Johnson.

The SAJ president noted that, as the industry prepares for the challenges ahead, the association will seek the assistance and guidance of its members to formalise strategic plans for the industry.

The SAJ is a registered trade union which represents 78 members in the shipping industry, spanning shipping agents, terminal operators, stevedoring companies, hauliers, non-vessel operating common carriers, ship owners and operators, customs brokers and freight forwarders, as well as providers of business-support services to the port community.