Minister of Transport and Works Mike Henry has pledged his continued support for the designation of the Newport West shipping community as an industrial park. The minister reaffirmed his commitment to partner with the Shipping Association of Jamaica (SAJ) to repair the roads and drains in the area within the first quarter of 2009.
Speaking at the launch of an exhibition which forms part of the 70th anniversary celebrations of the SAJ last Tuesday, Henry said, "I see no reason why the roads in and around the port should not be tolled. If you have no business there, you should not be in that area."
The exhibition is running at the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Library, Tom Redcam Avenue, until February 27, and will move to parish libraries in Portland, St Ann, St James and Manchester before being permanently mounted at the SAJ's Newport West premises.
Distribution centres
The minister was responding to SAJ president Roger Hinds' presentation, in which he announced that a part of the SAJ's vision for the year ahead, was the development of Newport West as an industrial park. An industrial park committee has already been established and will be headed by SAJ past president, Charles Johnston.
Minister Henry added that the Government will work with the industry to develop logistics and distribution centres. The establishment of such centres, he said, was part of the Government's vision to develop an integrated multi-modal transport sector which will link road, sea, rail and air.
Logistics hub
The minister stated that the first set of overseas interests would be meeting with the ministry to make a presentation on how Vernamfield Clarendon could be developed into a logistics hub. He said developers will also visit the island to discuss the revamping of the railway system to provide a direct link from the Port of Kingston to the logistics hub in Vernamfield, allowing faster and more cost effective distribution of cargo. Plans are also in place to develop logistics centres at Tinson Pen and at Caymanas.
SAJ president Roger Hinds, reiterated the association's support of the Government's 2030 vision for the development of the logistics hub and said the SAJ would move to provide value-added services.
"Jamaica's success as a major transshipment hub provides the impetus, the background and the experience to propel our country into its future role as a major logistics hub. Our role in the SAJ will be to support that project and, with a burning desire, help to bring it to reality," Hinds said.
The transport minister also announced that a civil aviation proposal has been passed for the establishment of an aeronautical school in Jamaica, to be located at the Caribbean Maritime Institute. The school will follow the Singapore curriculum, which is already recognised internationally.