Executive members of the JEA call on the SAJ

The executive members of the Jamaica Exporters' Association (JEA) made a courtesy call on their member and industry partner, the Shipping Association of Jamaica (SAJ), last Tuesday. Vitus Evans, JEA president, who led the visiting team, said his association was visiting members to get a deeper understanding of the context in which their businesses operate and to see what additional support might be warranted.

Roger Hinds, SAJ president, gave an overview of the association, in which he shared the SAJ's major achievements. He explained that the SAJ functions primarily as a labour-hire organisation, which employs in excess of 600 workers which are then contracted to the port to assist in the loading and discharge of cargo.

He added that the SAJ plays an integral part in advancing the sector's industrial relations and training, as well as security through its canine division. Hinds also gave a description of the association's information technology subsidiary, Advantum, which is the rebranded and re-energised Port Computer Services.

In sharing the association's vision, Hinds advised the JEA team of the plans to create an industrial park within the Newport West business district, subsequent to the completion of road works, which have started in the area. He lists as one of the SAJ's challenges, the fact that the National Works Agency (NWA) started the works more than 18 months ago and it has been the subject of many starts and stops. Currently, while the works remain unfinished, the NWA has suspended all activity without a proper explanation to the community.

He also told the team of the industry's initiative to implement a Port Community System. "A Port Community System is an electronic single window which automates the supply chain of all cargo moving across borders," Hinds said.

He added that the implementation of such a system in Jamaica will not only allow stakeholders in the logistics chain to exchange documents and information securely among themselves, trading partners, and Jamaica Customs, but will also increase Jamaica's efficiency in doing business. The Port Community System, Hinds stated, will optimise the business processes of the industry resulting in greater transparency and profiling of cargo, shippers, and consignees, as well as improve the Government's capacity to increase its revenue collection while mitigating corruption.

He remarked that the work being done to implement such a system is a collaborated effort between the SAJ, Port Authority of Jamaica, and Jamaica Customs Department. When completed, Jamaica should see an improvement in its value-added services, which ultimately will create additional employment.

The JEA president expressed satisfaction with the achievements of the SAJ. He also communicated the JEA's desire to have a better and more meaningful cooperation between the two associations with a view to ensuring that the Port Community System is implemented.

The JEA visiting team also included Jean Smith, general manager; David Yee Sing, director, and Novelette Hussey, membership and marketing officer. Trevor Riley, SAJ general manager, and managing committee members Denise Lyn Fatt and Evroy Johnson, as well as Dahlia Clarke, member services officer, also participated in the discussions.