Sixteen port workers graduated from the NCTVET-accredited Stevedoring Level 1 programme on October 1. At the presentation of certificates to the graduates, held at the Shipping Association of Jamaica (SAJ), general manager, Trevor Riley, noted that the orientation and training of port workers in Jamaica had evolved from the informal, on-the-job experience to the development of a formalised system which now includes NCTVET-level certification.

He said that the introduction of certification programmes was deliberate and was meant to bolster the competitive profile of Jamaica's shipping industry. He encouraged the newly-certified stevedores, "Don't stop striving to improve yourself."

Riley told the gathering that the establishment of minimum standards of professionalism was critical to improving the capacity of and efficiency at Jamaica's ports, and in so doing, would position Jamaica to take advantage of opportunities in the global economy. He added that as the shipping industry in Jamaica and the region changed to adapt to global demands, continuous training, the improvement of skills, and a general awareness of the developments within the sector would help the stevedores become more productive, and by extension, enhance Jamaica's competitiveness.