Port Authority Salutes 50 Years of Successful Partnerships

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 that we remain an important force in the global shipping and maritime sector,” he said.

Professor Shirley tells JIS News that as a member of the Board and the executive team of the PAJ, it is with pride that he leads an organisation that plays a vital role in the economic development of the nation.

Professor Shirley points out that after 50 years of existence, the Port Authority continues to effectively execute its mandate as regulator of the country’s ports and harbours and as a critical contributor to the economic growth and job creation objective of the nation.

He notes that it is the contributions of several individuals and organisations that have enabled the Authority to succeed in this regard.

Speaking against the background of the PAJ’s recent Corporate Awards, Employee Recognition and 50th Anniversary Celebration, Professor Shirley says that he is pleased that the Authority had an opportunity to “express gratitude to long-serving members of our community and to salute our heroes and beacons of excellence”.

He lauds the staff and retirees of the organisation for their hard work and dedication since the Authority’s inception in 1972.

“Our staff members have been the key to our resilience and adaptability to the changing times,” Professor Shirley says, noting that the Authority has been blessed with a uniquely talented and dedicated workforce over the 50 years of its existence. “We acknowledge, gratefully, that they are the bedrock on which the Authority’s successes have been built,” he adds.

Professor Shirley expresses special thanks for the leadership and guidance of parent Ministries at different levels over the years.

“The Authority has enjoyed consistently strong relationships with the Ministers to whom we have reported and to the Ministries that they have overseen. The relationships with our parent Ministries have been critical to the Authority’s successes across the 50 years,” the President and CEO points out.

Professor Shirley used the opportunity to thank Prime Minister, the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, who has portfolio responsibility for Economic Growth and Job Creation, “for his insightful guidance and consistent encouragement”.

He also has high praises for Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Arlene Williams, as well as former Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation Permanent Secretary and current Cabinet Secretary, the Honourable Audrey Sewell, for their stewardship and advice.

The PAJ President also acknowledges the contribution of Financial Secretary, Darlene Morrison, and her “very able and supportive executive team, as well as the team at the Ministry of Tourism, effectively led by Permanent Secretary, Miss Jennifer Griffiths”.

The President and CEO points out that the PAJ operates in a constantly changing business climate and, “despite the challenges of the international geopolitical and economic conditions, we have continued to achieve success across all our business segments”.

He notes that the Authority has been fortunate to have had strong, independent-minded boards comprised of individuals with the appropriate skills and that their leadership and guidance have been important to the PAJ’s success.

He makes special reference to chairman, Alok Jain, and the members of the current board, who continue to provide invaluable leadership support to the Authority.

Throughout its history, the Port Authority has forged strong and successful partnerships with public and private entities in all areas of operation.

“One of our most enduring relationships has been with the Shipping Association of Jamaica (SAJ), with whom we have collaborated to maintain an extended period of industrial calm on our ports,” Professor Shirley informs.

He specially recognised Charles Johnson, who, he explains, has been a constant in the leadership team of the SAJ and for many years a board member of the PAJ.

“We thank him especially for the partnership in maintaining industrial calm on our ports,” Professor Shirley notes. He also indicates that the President Elect of the Association, Corah Ann Robertson Sylvester is another industry stalwart from the SAJ and Seaboard Jamaica. The President and CEO also acknowledges the contribution of the various terminals across the island. Since 2016, PAJ’s largest asset, the Kingston Container Terminal has been managed under a 30-year concession agreement by the Kingston Freeport Terminal Limited, a subsidiary of CMA CGM, a leading shipping line under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer, Jedrzej Mierzewski. Two other terminals in Montego Bay and Ocho Rios are managed by Port Handlers Limited and Lannaman and Morris, respectively. Since 2019, the Authority’s tugboat service in Kingston has been managed under a concession agreement by Ocean Jamaica, a subsidiary of a large Canadian Maritime organization. In cruise operations, Professor Shirley says the collaborations with the world’s largest cruise lines “have been the foundation of the success that we have achieved in this sector”.

He adds that in the Special Economic Zones, PAJ hosts many of the globe’s largest business process outsourcing firms and their leading local and regional counterparts, noting that the partnerships have all been fruitful.

He also gives credit to the public entities that form a part of an important multi-sectoral network within the industry.

“We thank our sister agencies who have been integral partners in our work. These include the Jamaica Customs Agency, the Maritime Authority of Jamaica, the Urban Development Corporation, the Factories Corporation of Jamaica, Jamaica Promotions, Jamaica Special Economic Zone Authority, the Jamaica Constabulary Force, the Jamaica Defence Force, and the Port Security Corps.

“We are grateful for their ongoing collaboration that has been to the benefit of Jamaica’s expanded role in the maritime sector,” Professor Shirley says.

The Port Authority was established under the Port Authority Act in 1972 to regulate activities on the ports and the use of all port facilities.