University Status for CMI a Priority – Minister Henry

Minister of Transport and Mining, Hon. Mike Henry, says he will be fast-tracking legislation to accord the Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI) university status.

“The Bill to ensure this transformation is now in its final stage of review. As Minister with responsibility for the CMI, I will ensure that the Bill goes back on the Order Paper of Parliament as soon as possible,” he said.

Minister Henry, who was addressing a recent JIS News Think Tank, informed that he has already had discussions on the issue with the CMI’s Executive Director, Dr. Fitz Pinnock; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Alwin Hales; and Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid.

“This is to ensure that we are on the same page therefore, it will be a priority of the Ministry to follow through as quickly as possible,” he noted.

Minister Henry said that the development of the CMI is critical to the growth agenda of the Government and the strategy for the integration of air, land and sea transportation.

He hailed the CMI’s integrated approach to training, which he said,  “has resulted in it having bragging rights when it comes to the placement of trainees in the field of work”.

He noted that 90 percent of CMI graduates are either gainfully occupied or engaged in higher education pursuits.

“No other institution can legitimately make this claim,” Minister Henry said.