CUBAN TRANSPORT DELEGATION VISITS MTW

'Cuban Minister of Transport, Mr Carlos Manuel Pazo, Minister Pickersgill, Permanent Secretary Dr. Alwin Hales, Cuban Vice Minister, Mr. Joel Archer and Katarina Mcghie (MTW) and Angel Soccaras (standing) at the signing.'

A delegation from the Cuban Ministry of Transport led by their Minister of Transport, Mr. Carlos Manuel Pazo were guests of the Ministry of Transport and Works from November 2-10, 2004.

The group was in Jamaica to continue discussions on areas of co-operation between the two countries, particularly as it related to maritime matters. This visit of the Cubans came after a similar series of meetings which started in Kingston between July and 15, 1999. A subsequent meeting was held in Havana, Cuba from September 5-6, 2000.

'Minister Pickersgill, Permanent Secretary Dr. Alwin Hales, Vice Minister of Cuba, Joel Archer Santos, and Mr. Angel Soccaras, Director, International Relations, Cuba, sign the Memorandum of Consultation.'

Two of the days, Thursday, November 4 and Friday, November 5 were devoted to working meetings with several sectors of the transport fraternity. On Thursday, the Cuban and Jamaican delegations were introduced to each other followed by an analysis of previous meetings’ achievements. A discussion then ensued focusing on several areas pertinent to the maritime sector. These areas included Port Security, Port State Control, Co-operation on International Maritime Organisation (IMO) matters along with Search and Rescue (SAR). This session was marshaled by the Maritime Authority of Jamaica.

On Friday, the delegation paid a courtesy call on Minister Robert Pickersgill; Minister Fenton Ferguson, Permanent Secretary Dr. Alwin Hales were also part of the MTW Team visited by the delegation.

Friday saw the second day of the working meeting where several other maritime issues were discussed. These included Co-operation regarding Salvage activities, Protection of the environment and other vulnerable areas, Contingency planning for pollution incidents, Training in maritime transport logistics, Jamaican Cadet training on Cuban vessels, Classification Society Recognition, Harmonisation of Shipping registries among others.

'Mr. Peter Ford of the Port Authority of Jamaica, the Cuban Minister of Transport, Mr. Carlos Manuel Pazo Torrado, Katarina McGhie, Marine Policy Officer, MTW, Dr. Janine Dawkins, Director, Technical Services, MTW and Vice Minister of Transport, Cuba on a tour of the Port Bustamante. '

During their visit, the delegation also toured a number of areas associated with maritime matters. These included Port Bustamante in Kingston, the Port of Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, the Caribbean Maritime Institute and the Shipping Association of Jamaica (SAJ). A tour of Highway 2000 was also facilitated.

At the completion of the visit, a Memorandum of Consultation was signed between Cuba and Jamaica.

The delegation left the island on Wednesday, November 10.