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SAJ, KSAC meet to address Newport West woes

Published:Tuesday | June 18, 2024 | 12:06 AM
President of the Shipping Association of Jamaica (SAJ), Corah Ann Robertson-Sylester (third left), presents a copy of ‘History of the Shipping Association of Jamaica, 1939-2005’ to mayor of Kingston Andrew Swaby. They are joined by SAJ and KSAC represe
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President of the Shipping Association of Jamaica (SAJ), Corah Ann Robertson-Sylester (third left), presents a copy of ‘History of the Shipping Association of Jamaica, 1939-2005’ to mayor of Kingston Andrew Swaby. They are joined by SAJ and KSAC representatives who were part of the discussion on tackling the challenges facing the Newport West shipping community.

THE SHIPPING Association of Jamaica (SAJ) met the Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Andrew Swaby, and a delegation from the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) on Wednesday, June 12, to discuss critical issues affecting the Newport West shipping community.

The meeting, led by SAJ President Corah Ann Robertson-Sylvester, focused on challenges, including flooding, poor road conditions, inadequate drainage, poor traffic management, unregulated vending, and public safety in the community. These issues, the SAJ outlined, threaten the viability of Newport West as a commercial hub and could jeopardise Jamaica’s ambitions of becoming a global logistics centre.

Robertson-Sylvester emphasised the urgency of addressing these issues, highlighting the threat to efficiency in port and allied services and the corollary of strained relationships with international logistics partners.

Mayor Swaby expressed the KSAMC’s willingness to cooperate with the SAJ on improvements. While acknowledging the challenges of immediate change, he stressed the importance of continued stakeholder engagement.

Following the discussions, the KSAMC team toured Newport West to view the issues first-hand.

The meeting formed part of the SAJ’s ongoing efforts to revitalise Newport West and solidify Jamaica’s position as a leading shipping and logistics player. In January, the SAJ participated in discussions with the European Union, the European Investment Bank, and the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce regarding infrastructural improvements in the communities surrounding the port and the further development of the industry.