SELA, PMAC & ACS Webinar on the Caribbean Port Experience

ASSOCIATION OF CARIBBEAN STATES (ACS)

DIRECTORATE FOR TRADE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (DTSD)

PRESS RELEASE:

VIRTUAL SEMINAR ON THE CARIBBEAN PORT EXPERIENCE

The Association of Caribbean States in collaboration with the Latin American and Caribbean Economic System (SELA) Secretariat and the Port Management Association of the Caribbean (PMAC) successfully hosted the Caribbean Port Experience Seminar, 25th and 26th October, 2021. This two-day seminar regrouped panel experts in the areas of Maritime Transport and Port Management in both the Caribbean and Latin America, in order to share best practice measures regarding the optimisation of port management within the Greater Caribbean.

Under the responsibility of the Directorate for Trade and Sustainable Development of the Association of the Caribbean States, the seminar received remarks from Ambassador Clarems Endara, Permanent Secretary of the Latin American and Caribbean Economic System (SELA); the ACS Secretary General, Rodolfo Sabonge and Vice President of the Port Management Association of the Caribbean (PMAC), Darwin Telemaque, vocalising their enthusiasm for the power of harnessing Public and Private Partnerships (PPP) for the advancement of the transport system and infrastructure within the region. They also expressed gratitude for the continued partnership and support from the SELA, PMAC and ACS in holding these valuable initiatives that reach their mutual membership.

The first day focused on the theme of “Optimising PPP for Port Operations” and saw contributions from the World Bank Lead Transport Economist Martin Humphrey who gave an overview of PPPs in port governance and in port reforms utilising the PPP dynamic. Ricardo Sánchez, Senior Economic Affairs Officer at ECLAC, highlighted the importance of the “People First” approach in the use of PPP’s to promote and holistically develop operations. Elisabet Torres, Analyst in the Directorate of Studies and Proposals at SELA expounded on the joint project with CAF on the Digital and Collaborative Port Network.

The theme “Best practices for national port authorities” was the focus for the second day of the webinar where three countries from the Greater Caribbean gave their experiences on the management of their ports for the enrichment of the participants. The Divisional Manager Innovation & Corporate Services of Barbados Port Inc, Captain Karl Branch, spoke to the security and productivity improvements of traditional ports in Barbados through the use of technology for their vision of being the most Green Maritime Port in the world by 2030. Darwin Telemaque, Chief Executive Officer of the Antigua Port Authority, presented on Antigua and Barbuda’s Maritime Single Window, that addresses efficiency and productivity issues within the port environment. The Director of Port Community System Operations for Jamaica, Dwain Powell, emphasized the use of technology for capacity building efforts as well as revamping the processes and efficiency in the implementation of a Port Community System in Jamaica.

Participants reflected on each session was through question and answer segments and espoused the importance and timeliness of the seminar. Participants, from both public and private sector organisations and the public interested in the sector attended the two day session.

For more information please contact the Directorate of Trade and Sustainable Development: [email protected].

About the ACS

The Association of Caribbean States is the organization for consultation, cooperation and concerted action in trade, transport, sustainable tourism and natural disasters in the Greater Caribbean. Its Member States are Antigua & Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Panama, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago and Venezuela. Its Associate Members are Aruba, Curacao, (France on behalf of French Guiana, Saint Barthelemy and Saint Martin ), Guadeloupe, Martinique, Sint Maarten, (The Netherlands on behalf of Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius ), Turks and Caicos.