Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Professor Sir Kenneth Hall, has commended the Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI) for its vision and achievements, and the initiatives the institute had taken to build alliances around the world.
He noted that alliances were “an important part of the survival of small countries like Jamaica and we are building it in critical areas such as maritime areas.”
Sir Kenneth, who, along with Lady Rheima Hall, toured the institute’s premises at Palisadoes Park on Thursday (May 1), pointed out that the CMI was of critical importance to national survival.
“As an island country, most of our goods and services still go by sea. We are indeed invaded regularly from the sea and so an institute like this is critical to our national survival, our security (and), the whole idea of placing us in a position to be able to negotiate our way in the world,” he stated.
He expressed delight and pride in the conversion of the institute to “an academic technical institution and the aspiration in becoming a university by the year 2010,” noting that only universities and education institutions have the ability to certify persons for employment and professional work.
Professor Hall expressed the hope that “other Caribbean governments can now begin to honour their commitment to be part of the CMI, so that we in the region can share our resources (and) build an institution with a reputation for excellence worldwide.”
While at the institute, Their Excellencies inspected cadets and toured facilities such as the electrical and mechanical workshop; full mission bridge simulator; and the gantry crane simulator. They also planted trees and viewed a demonstration of a survival and rescue exercise by students and staff.
Professor Hall also issued a certificate of commendation to the institute for its contribution to the development of the maritime industry in the Caribbean.
CMI Board Chairman, Captain Hopeton DeLisser, said the visit of the Governor-General was a truly historic one and the knowledge imparted “will assist us in our quest for higher standards and greater outputs in the fulfillment of our mandate for delivering first class maritime education and training.”
The CMI has restructured its curriculum to educate and train persons to fit into the three transport sub-sectors of land, sea and air, and has successfully launched five unique Bachelor of Science degrees in September 2007 and is currently working on two additional degrees, which will be launched in association with Kingston Wharves Limited (KWL), Jamaica Customs Brokers and Jamaica Customs Department.