SAJ training focused on industry progress, says GM

The Shipping Association of Jamaica (SAJ) continues to deepen its commitment to the nation by aggressive leadership in the development of training for staff and other members of the shipping industry.

While much has been written about the ongoing dynamic training opportunities in several shipping and port-related areas, the wider training opportunities opened by the association for its staff and members is less well known.

For example, in the last year, several of the SAJ's administrative and stevedoring staff have completed tertiary and postgraduate courses with the support of the SAJ's Education Assistance Programme.

The programme partially funds tertiary-level education for staff and primary and secondary education for children of staff of member companies as well as internal staff. In the last five years, the programme has assisted more than 2,000 individuals and numerous before that.

"At every level, the SAJ has always taken the education of its staff seriously and has a track record of implementing training programmes geared at improving the proficiency level of our staff," Trevor Riley, general manager, SAJ, said.

"This is evidenced through the establishment of the cybercafé for stevedores, as well as the stevedoring-certification course conducted last year in partnership with the HEART Trust National Training Agency and the NCTVET," Riley added.

"This is with a very keen focus on the need for the shipping industry to have the most competent teams, at every level, to enable Jamaica to be the most advanced port in this region and to enable us to maintain our competitive edge," he said. "None of this is by accident. This is part of a deeper development strategy," Riley added.

He expressed delight with the accomplishment of the staff and noted that they have always made the association proud.

Among those recently being certified on several programmes are:

Dionne Gordon, operations manager, property and administration, Bachelor of Arts in business administration and finance from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland;

Mark Butler, stevedore, Bachelor of Science in port management from the Caribbean Maritime Institute;

Deonne Graham-Morris, Bachelor of Arts in administrative management with a minor in human resource management from the University of Technology. She is now pursuing her master's degree in human resource management at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland;

Nadine Rowe, trucker-registration officer, Bachelor of Arts in management studies, emphasis in human-resource management, from Northern Caribbean University; and

Camille Spence, librarian and accounting officer - cess receivables, associate of science in library science from Excelsior Community College. She is pursuing her Bachelor of Arts in management studies at Heriot-Watt University in Edingburgh, Scotland.

Two other members of staff, Jean Hinds, internal auditor; and Fiona Hall, accountant; are pursuing their master's degrees. Both are completing a Master of Business administration with an emphasis in finance. Hinds studies at the University of Technology, whereas Hall is pursuing her studies at the Manchester Business School, England. Both will complete their degrees this year.