2007, January 5: The Caribbean Shipping Association (CSA) has continued on its path of growth and after 36 years has firmly established itself as the voice of the shipping industry of the Region.

According to the recently elected President of the CSA, Fernando Rivera, there has not been a year in the past 36 years that the Caribbean Shipping Association has not received several applications for membership.

In a statement to mark the 35th anniversary of the modern Port of Paramaribo, Suriname, Mr. Rivera noted that the CSA has helped in a tremendous way to assist the tremendous growth that has taken place in regional shipping.

“We have brought to the Caribbean shipping industry information and advice about development. The conferences of the CSA have been a place of learning” he said.

The CSA President said: “By presenting experts in their fields to address our members and to make technical presentations on topics that are relevant for development, the CSA has helped the shipping industry of the Region to grow and expand in a systematic and orderly way.

“If you visit the sea ports across the Caribbean today – whether they are great terminals or small facilities – you will see structures and modern systems. More than this, you will see organization and management strategies that were obviously learned and gathered from outside of those territories.

“This was not the case 36 years ago. At that time, each port struggled alone with its own problems; often making similar mistakes. Each port was struggled alone to find solutions. There was no forum in which to discuss the problems; there was no support network to search for solutions.

“The Caribbean Shipping Association changed all that. Regardless of the shipping problem, the CSA has provided a place where solutions could be sought, formally or informally. In this regard, the CSA has been a powerful force for development in the Caribbean area.

“And, because of this the Association has grown considerably and continues to grow steadily.”

As regards the continued growth of this Regional body, with membership from both the public and private sectors, the CSA President said: “We continue to get applications for membership, every year. There has not been a year in the past 36 years when the CSA’s General Council has not received new applications for membership. And, if you look at the membership list of the CSA, you will see that every major shipping entity in the English, French, Dutch and Spanish Caribbean is a member.

“On top of all this, the CSA has given regional shipping a voice. Our governments now understand and appreciate that shipping is as much an industry as any manufacturing enterprise. They know that shipping is vital to their respective economies and, as such, require their attention and support. Our governments realize that their local shipping industry is linked to the shipping industry of the wider Caribbean and they recognize the Caribbean Shipping Association as “the voice of Regional shipping.

“Our website has become the gateway to Regional shipping and interests from all over the world are now in touch with the Caribbean through the CSA’s website.

“This CSA did all this in 36 short years,” Mr. Rivera declared.