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MINISTER HENRY TOURS KINGSTON WHARVES LIMITED; PART OF MOU SIGNING BETWEEN KWL AND CMI

The Signing party: from left to right, standing - State Minister, Hon. Joseph Hibbert; Minister Mike Henry; Mr. Fritz Pinnock, Executive Director, CMI and Captain John Ulett, Managing Director, SAL. Seated are from left to right, Mr. Grantley Stephenson, Chairman and CEO of KWL and Chairman of CMI, Capt. Hopeton DeLisser.

Minister Mike Henry was part of a team which toured Kingston Wharves Limited on Thursday, March 6, 2008.

The tour which also had members of the media and other stakeholders from the shipping fraternity on hand, saw the Minister viewing various aspects of the Wharf’s operations. The Minister expressed satisfaction with the multi-billion dollar re-development project at KWL, which has ensured greater storage and berthing space at that port. He pledged the government’s commitment in assisting with the further development of the maritime sector. “I congratulate you on your just ended expansion … I am encouraged by it and you have my commitment on future development,” he said. He also lauded KWL for the successful security measures that have been put in place at KWL.

Minister Henry also used the opportunity to urge the KWL to take steps to have scales put in place so that container-trailers leaving that location would carry only the requisite weight. Chairman and CEO of KWL, Mr. Grantley Stephenson assured the Minister that a scale for that purpose would be put in place in short order.

Continuing, Mr. Stephenson pointed out that the re-development project at that location had resulted in 20 acres of additional space for the wharves and a 50ft seawards expansion of the port. The re-development has also included the establishment of 1,225 feet of modern berthing facilities. He explained that the expansion is 98% complete and that the finishing touches which were being added should come to an end within two weeks.

Turning to another aspect of KWL’s operations, Mr. Stephenson noted that under the Mega Port Initiative with the USA and Jamaica, additional x-ray machines are to be installed at the ports to test for radioactive substances.

While on the tour, Minister Henry participated in the signing of an MOU between the Caribbean Maritime Institute and Kingston Wharves Limited. The signing of the MOU is geared towards creating new training and employment opportunities for many Jamaicans. One component of the MOU is the establishment of a Bachelor of Science Degree in Security Management.

The Bachelor of Science in Security Management is one of two cutting edge courses, which will be initiated by the MOU. The second course being offered is the advanced Port Facility Security Officer (PFSO) Training Programme. The course will bring all modes of transportation, ie land, sea and air, into one integrated Bachelor of Science degree programme. The programme is quite advanced and as such, a professional team, drawn primarily from Security Administrator Limited (SAL), a subsidiary of Kingston Wharves Ltd. And the Caribbean Maritime Institute will work together to deliver the course. Professionals from the Industrial Securities Discipline (land based) and from the airport will also form an integral part of this course.