TRANSPORT MI NISTER TOURS NORMAN MANLEY AIRPORT, CARIBBEAN MARTIME INSTITUTE

Minister Henry (with the mike) addressing audience and media on the tour of the NMIA. With him are from left to right, Mr. Dennis Morrison, Chairman of the AAJ, Mr. Earl Richards, President of the AAJ and Mrs. Elsa-May Binns, Senior Director, Policy in the MTW

Continuing on his very busy schedule of activities, Minister L. Michael Henry toured the Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA) and the Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI) on Friday, September 28.

His first stop was the NMIA which is undergoing extensive renovations. His tour took him to the ticketing concourse, the departures building, the immigration hall and customs, the arrivals area and the VIP lounge where he hosted a brief press conference.

Minister Henry in the Simulator room at the Caribbean Maritime Institute.

Minister Henry used the opportunity to say thanks to his predecessor for the work that had been done at the airport and pledged that he would ensure that it is completed at a very high standard. He also clarified that he didn't intend for the Vernamfield Airport which he is hoping to be built in Clarendon, to be a replacement for Norman Manley. He said that he would like it to be a complementary part of the air transport offerings.

Continuing, Minister Henry said, " for quite some time now, it has been quite exciting and inspiring to visit or even pass through the two international airports here in Jamaica, especially the Norman Manley International Airport, because of the continuously changing faces of the facilities under the ongoing expansion programmes being spearheaded by the Airports Authority of Jamaica."

From the NMIA, the Minister left for the CMI. There, he met with several members of that institution, including Executive Director, Mr. Fritz Pinnock. After a brief power point presentation, detailing the work of the CMI, he was given a tour of the Institution's Full Mission Bridge Simulator. This piece of equipment simulates an exact scenario as it occurs with a ship traversing the ocean

Following that, the Minister addressed the audience, made up of students, teachers, other officials from the maritime fraternity and the media. He hailed the Institution for the work it had been doing in addressing the needs of the maritime industry not only in Jamaica but in the world. He noted that the maritime industry was an important sector which had several linkages to other areas and highlighted the positive implications this had for employment opportunities. He also underscored the importance of the sector saying that education of the nation in this respect should be addressed and that doing so from the basic school level is something to be looked at.

He opined that the CMI for a long time had been seen as 'neglected child' and offered his assistance in combating some of the challenges the institution is undergoing.