The Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ) is saluting women in maritime for their sterling contribution to the industry. MAJ Director General, Bertrand Smith, tells JIS News that it is a timely opportunity to recognise the achievements of women, particularly the trailblazers, who have excelled at both maritime administration and seafaring. He was speaking against the background of the observation of...

Ralston Smith has risen through the ranks from a Route Inspector in 1992, to become Managing Director (MD) of the Transport Authority (TA), just over 30 years later, fulfilling a pronouncement that was made over his life early in his career. The Managing Director tells JIS News that he has spent his entire career at the TA and is proud...

The Women's International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) Jamaica has made significant strides in fostering inclusivity for women, through the launch of the National WISTA Association, which is geared at creating greater opportunities for women in the maritime sector. WISTA International, which is a global network of over 4,300 female executives and decision-makers in the maritime industry, offers programmes on...

Studies have shown that the use of a mobile telecommunication device while operating a motor vehicle reduces the driver’s field of vision by 75 per cent. Distracted driving significantly increases the likelihood of road accidents and fatalities because the driver’s focus is on speaking on the phone. Programme Coordinator of the National Road Safety Council (NRSC), Victor Anderson, says this...

As the Port Authority of Jamaica celebrates 50 years of service to Jamaica, President and Chief executive Officer, Professor Gordon Shirley is confident that the entity will continue to be a facilitator of growth and development in the country’s ports and harbours and in the maritime sector. “We will continue to invest in our people, technology and infrastructure to ensure...

Some 60,000 Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) passengers in the Kingston Metropolitan Region are set to benefit from the temporary reduction in bus fares. As of January 1, there will be a cut in the regular fare from $100 to $70, with the fare for children moving from $30 to $25, and for pensioners from $40 to $30. Additionally, effective...

With 401 road fatalities recorded since the start of the year, Vice Chairman of the National Road Safety Council (NRSC), Dr. Lucien Jones, is urging Jamaicans to adhere to the rules of the road to reduce road crashes and deaths. The figure represents a 13 per cent reduction in road deaths, compared to 461 persons killed for the corresponding period...

An agreement between Carnival Cruise Line and Caribbean Maritime University (CMU), which will provide maritime training and job opportunities for local students, is being hailed by parent company, Carnival Corporation, as a signal of its commitment to and confidence in Jamaica. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which was signed on March 7, 2023, will see 45 maritime students at the...

Newly elected President of the Women in Maritime Association Caribbean (WiMAC), Dr. Evette Smith Johnson, believes in creating a safe environment for women in the maritime industry where they can share, air their concerns and be given room to grow. This, she tells JIS News, should be done in tandem with the umbrella vision that the International Maritime Organization (IMO)...