14th Annual General Meeting of the Port Managers Association
The Montserrat Port Authority was host for the 14th Annual General Meeting of the Port Managers Association of the Caribbean (P.M.A.C.), which was held on Thursday, June 23, 2001 at the Montserrat Cultural Centre at Little Bay.
The Hon Minister Charles Kirnon in his welcome, acting both in his capacity as Ag. Chief Minister and the minister responsible for the local port authority, reminded that, “over the past 16 years the ports of the region have faced many challenges including issues of security, financial and human resource issues,” noting that Port Little Bay was no exception.
Hon Minister Charles Kirnon
He note further that there many are the challenges, “but I am sure that a meet of this nature will draw on the expertise of the various players in this region and together solutions will be reached, albeit some if not most of these solutions will be of a financial nature thought we are all faced with paucity of funds,” he said.
The Minister joined in positing the raved of beauty of Montserrat, acknowledged throughout the opening ceremony by visitors and home speakers alike. “On leaving, I hope you will spread the word for us that Montserrat is still nice and open for business,” he mused.
Mrs. Donna-Mae Lee was the very able chairperson for the ceremony. After her own short welcome and establishing the protocol of officials and guests she got the event on the way beginning with a short prayer by Alfred Ryan of the Ministry of Finance. The Ag. Chief Mnister followed with his remarks and Montserrat Port Manager, Shawn O’garro gave welcome remarks.
Montserrat Port Manager Shawn O’garro
O’Garro spoke of how he invited the PMAC to hold the AGM in Montserrat and expressed his gratitude to all who made it possible. “The Board of the Authority agreed that we should host this AGM, PMAC confirmed, and that is why these delegates are here today,” He then added: “I went all out at the other meetings to suggest and maintain that Montserrat is one of the most, if not the most beautiful Island in the Caribbean.”
The manager noted in his remarks: “It was the right thing to do because apart from the economic derivatives the opportunity presented itself to reinforce to the region that Montserrat is still a place to do business.”
Vice Chairman Lenius Lendor
Vice Chairman Lenius Lendor in his remarks joined Port Manager O’Garro with congratulatory comments to outgoing and retired PMAC chairman Everton Walters who after 41 years of service to Barbados port was recently awarded the CBE on the Queen’s birthday list. “I would like to publicly acknowledge on behalf of the executive and members of PMAC the service contribution of Mr. Walters,” Lendor said.
Montserrat Port Superintendent George Green
Lendor also in his opening remarks, on behalf of the delegates thanked the Montserrat port (and the government and people of Montserrat) for the hospitality that was exhibited from the moment we arrived at the airport.”
He also highlighted the challenging financial times. “We are meeting here for this 14th AGM against the back drop of a very challenging economic environment, which given the open economies that we have, we are very vulnerable and exposed to fluctuation in the global economic cycles for example we know that through port has decreased, and the ports have actually felt the pinch of the global economic downturn…” he proffered.
Delegates to the AGM hailed from Anguilla, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Jamaica , Canada, Puerto Rico, Nevis and France representing various port organisations, regional and international.
Marking the end with a Vote of Thanks, George Green, Montserrat port superintendent offered thanks to all who made the event in Montserrat possible.
