CSA President speaks on Training...

Caribbean Shipping Association President, Captain Rawle Baddaloo, is concerned about maritime training and the placement of trained Caribbean nationals on ships and has moved to reorganize the Association's training programme.  Capt. Baddaloo made his comments while addressing the opening session of the recent CSA semi-annual meeting in Paramaribo, Suriname.

"There is some cause for concern with the CSA's training programme. The CSA's Mission Statement, sets out our objectives, one of which is training. Our objective is to train our human resource as a means of fostering a quality maritime industry.

"However we have encountered some obstacles in our pursuit of excellence. To overcome these obstacles there must be some reorganization of our training process and we have taken a positive step in that direction, with the acquiring of a new training director. I am happy to announce that Ms. Anne deSouza has agreed to assist us as Training Director. Indeed she has already planned two courses for this year. The topics are focused on two areas, port terminal operators and shipping agents.

"During my term as President of the CSA, as I have said before, I wish to stress the importance of training our youth. A profession in the maritime industry should be a viable option for the region's youth... after all, our shores are washed by the Caribbean Sea, a resource which, throughout history, has been a provider of employment opportunities. Thus the CSA must increase its energies and expand its initiatives to equip our youth with the expertise to become our future pilots, harbour masters, port managers, cargo managers and supervisors.

"We, also, must try to put an end to a troubling trend that is developing in the region in the area of Maritime training. It is disturbing to see the Caribbean Maritime Institute and other international maritime academies initially training young people for maritime careers but not being able to complete the cycle by getting much needed sea time. This is an issue that I intend to follow up. It is important for the theory to be followed by practice. Admittedly, CSA has shown a little progress in this direction, and I am happy to say, arrangements were successfully made for two young men to join vessels and gain valuable sea time.

"Another priority of the CSA is to work with all agencies and groups for the benefit of its members and region. We must engage in dialogue with relevant regional and international organizations, to create working relationships that will further our Association's cause. Through cooperation, the CSA can lend its technical expertise to various organizations, and in return, we can use the platform provided by these groups to sensitize influential bodies on the issues and positions of our regional maritime sector.

The Association of Caribbean States (ACS) and Caricom are two very important organizations in our region, with which we must engage in deep dialogue.

"At present, the CSA and the ACS are moving towards a Social Partner relationship. The ACS is deeply involved in the promotion of trade, transportation and tourism in the wider Caribbean region, and as a social partner we will have the opportunity to sit on relevant committees and advise policy formulation. Our Association's voice will be heard in this organization, and we must develop symbiotic relationships with other relevant institutions, so that we may be able to extend our influence and lend our technical expertise. On this note, I am happy to inform that the General Council has met and approved the Memorandum of Understanding, which will be signed between the CSA and the ACS, shortly.

"Caribbean organizations such as the Association of Caribbean States and Caricom are powerful lobby groups and, with our technical inputs, can influence foreign policy for our benefit.

...and on nuclear waste
One issue that worries the entire region and especially our tourism and maritime sectors is the transport of nuclear waste through the Caribbean Sea by developed nations.

We need to work with these organizations to convey a unanimous stance on this matter. Our oceans are important to us, without it the tourism sector, which many of our islands depend on for survival, will perish. We must increase vigilance and interest in our "business place"; the Caribbean sea - our common heritage, and curb any measures that threaten our work environment.

And related to this environmental matter, is the need to accede to the MARPOL Convention, through which we can protect our fragile marine environment.