Information

The Shipping Association of St Lucia Inc (SASL) hopes to make significant strides towards its own development in the year ahead so as to empower it to assist national progress.

Still in its infancy, the Association is currently served by its third president, Wayne Monrose, completing the first year of his two-year term.

In the year ahead, the Association will continue its work to define itself and to establish its presence in the St Lucian community.

“To date we are not seen as a forceful and meaningful organisation within the community,” said Mr Monrose. “We recognised that from within we must revisit our mission, our vision and if necessary amend our Articles of Association to allow us to include in our membership other entities that share commonality of purpose. If we are to remain relevant, we must of necessity strive to become of greater meaning and significance within the community.”

Mr Monrose said that, while the members shared common goals to ensure future opportunities for the organisation, they were also aware of the inhibiting factors that impede success. In this regard, he said, a competent individual must be drafted to pursue a strategic business plan that would truly reflect the aspirations of all members and stakeholders. That plan, he said, must be “a true guide that will direct our path” and must be ready for immediate implementation.

Goals and objectives

“We have all agreed that the success of the Association hinged not only on the conceptualisation of ideas, but with the services of a highly competent individual to successfully channel the goals and objectives through a functional and effective secretariat.

The success of any business desk must include a cost. As such, we must and will explore all possibilities and avenues for financing opportunities for funding the secretariat for long-term success.”

After its inauguration in February 2004 the SASL found the early period difficult as it strove to establish an organisation strong enough to influence positive development in the shipping sector.

The period immediately following the inauguration was spent largely in preparing and sensitising the membership to cope with the new challenges and measures being implemented as a result of the new port security system just then being implemented.

This was followed by the hosting of the Caribbean Shipping Executives Conference, an attempt to expose membership and the wider community to the Caribbean Shipping Association.

Workshop

In July 2009, through the CSA Secretariat, the SASL invited the Shipping Association of Jamaica to travel to St Lucia to conduct a workshop to share experiences and best practice. The aim was to motivate its membership to cope with the many challenges facing new associations, especially that of defining and implementing strategies that would lead to a viable and profitable association.

In this regard, the St Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA) has been invited to full membership of the association.

“Barriers which for the last 10 years have impeded direct dealing between them [SLASPA] and the NVOCCs are currently being discussed [with a view to] dismantling,” said Mr Monrose. “We both recognise the serious benefits that can be shared because of our common purpose.”