OECS and PMAC sign MOU to strengthen Port operations in the Caribbean Strengthening.
Castries, June 28th, 2015-In a joint effort to strategically address matters pertaining to the efficiency of port management and operations in the Caribbean, the OECS Commission and the Port Management Association of the Caribbean (PMAC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the PMAC’s 19th Annual General Meeting in Nevis.
The OECS Commission, through its recently established OECS Port Management Committee, has been working closely with the PMAC to develop an OECS strategy and action plan which will help to improve Port infrastructural capabilities, safety and security, transportation logistics, skills and competencies of Port personnel, and trade facilitation within the OECS Economic Union.
The Chairmen of the OECS Port Management Committee and the PMAC indicated that a collaborative approach towards achieving their shared goals and objectives should lead to greater results with lesser efforts and fewer scarce resources being expended. Additionally, both parties have pledged their commitment to establishing a feasible and sustainable mechanism for institutional strengthening, infrastructural development and port productivity.
A statement by Dr. Didacus Jules, OECS Director General declared the OECS Commission’s unwavering support towards facilitating meaningful engagements between the OECS Port Management Committee and the PMAC in order to address port management and operational issues associated with goods and people moving in and out of the region: “The time is right for both parties to solidify their relationship in an efficient, predictable and transparent manner.”
The signing ceremony, which took place on Thursday, June 23, 2016, was witnessed by the Honourable Vance Amory, Premier of Nevis, and Dr. Fritz Pinnock, the Executive Director of the Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI) who has been working closely with the OECS and the PMAC to develop this functional cooperation arrangement. Also in attendance were the CEOs and Directors of Caribbean Port Authorities as well as representatives from the Caribbean Shipping Association, International Maritime Organization, American Association of Port Authorities, Gulf Port Associations of the Americas, SOGET (global leaders in Port Community Systems) and the Caribbean Development Bank.
The OECS Port Management Committee and the PMAC have already initiated this joint cooperation in areas geared toward enhancing the capacity and competitiveness of Caribbean Ports to the benefit of governments, traders and consumers within the OECS Economic Union and wider Caribbean.
