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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
Ministry of Transport & Aviation
HON. GLENYS HANNA MARTIN MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND AVIATION
MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR THE ENGLERSTON CONSTITUENCY
Opening Of
Bahamas Shipowners Association
Annual General Meeting
Tuesday, 28th October, 2014 9:00 am
British Colonial Hilton Nassau Nassau, Bahamas
(Salutations)
Good Morning,
It is my privilege and indeed my pleasure to welcome you to Nassau, Bahamas.
I am so pleased that you have agreed to convene here for your AGM and to deliberate on matters affecting your mutual concerns and shipping matters in general but at the same time to extend the dialogue to incorporate matters germane and specific to our own country and the maritime sector in the Bahamas.
I want to congratulate and thank you and in particular, the leadership of your Chairman Mr. George Pateras, for this broadening and deepening of the relationship between the Bahamas Maritime Authority (and by extension the Bahamian people) with your own interests.
I wish to thank the officers of the BMA who were instrumental in making this happen and I take this opportunity to congratulate the Chairman who bought in to the vision.
I wish to especially thank the Deputy Chairman, Mr. Peter Goulandris, who used his personal energies and attention to see this project to its conclusion.
A few days ago we launched our candidacy for reelection of membership on the IMO Council, an event sponsored by the BMA.
We intend to continue to pursue the proper of positioning our country as an important and influential member on the Council: we do so because we wish to continue to contribute qualitatively and substantively to policy initiatives which impact the growth and development of global shipping: We wish to continue to serve as advocates for measures which enhance global shipping; in a way that is commercially sustainable while at the same time upholding the sustained portfolio interest the interest of the Bahamian people in the maritime sector in The Bahamas. It is through this symbiotic relationship that our ship register will continue to go from strength to strength while our own maritime sector will become strengthened and will grow exponentially.
I have to admit to you - I love this new paradigm: this is a win-win scenario and can only auger well for the future growth and enhancement of the Bahamas Maritime Authority and its ship-owning interests and the maritime sector in general.
I am pleased that as we seek to more effectively position the BMA, we only just a few months ago opened an office in one of the historic shipping centres of the world, Piraeus, Greece.
I was privileged to be there for that moment. I am advised that this latest initiative has placed the BMA most strategically in its quest to capture its market share in this critical industry.
The agenda and itinerary of this month’s meeting has a very clear point of reference: namely one which seeks to fortify what is indeed a symbiotic relationship between on the one hand the BMA and the role it plays in effectively facilitating your shipping interests in a reputable, cutting-edge, efficient and responsive framework with, on the other hand, the burgeoning maritime sector of The Bahamas. We are very happy that you have seen us as more than an offshore register but have correctly observed that the flag and its register has over and beyond its administrative functions and operations an archipelagic nation of people who are proud, talented and filled with tremendous potential in the maritime sector.
You have voluntarily chosen to look deep and to inject your own resources and share your substantial knowledge base in youth development and maritime training in our country. You have sought to incorporate into your own collective integrity of our environment. It is a critical balance to be struck. We understand it. And we support it. We believe that the technical expertise we have brought to the various important Committees of the IMO have effectively achieved this two- pronged objective.
In the meantime, domestically we have completed the framework for a Maritime Policy which is the product of a consultative process with stakeholders across the length and breadth of The Bahamas. This process was marshalled by the expert consultants seconded to us by the Commonwealth Secretariat.
That consultation has led to a draft Policy and during the course of this week and next week the consultative process will continue with our citizens throughout The Bahamas and a link has been provided to a website established for comments and contributions.
Once adopted formally, this Maritime Policy will inform policy and will guide and foster growth of the maritime sector and maximize the sustainable exploitation of water as an important natural resource occurring in abundance in The Bahamas.
This is an important piece of work of which I am very proud as it allows for a comprehensive framework for planned development which will aid in positioning the maritime sector as a defined and fully established pillar in our economy. The policy touches and concerns the entire spectrum of water from shipping and fishing to energy and science and technology and industry. The BMA has been very instrumental in facilitating the groundwork for this initiative.
In closing I wish to again thank the Chairman, executive and membership of the Bahamas Shipowner’s Association for this new and exciting vision for your support pf the Bahamas Maritime Cadet Corps and the assistance in providing placement of Bahamian mariners on ships internationally.
I trust your deliberations will be thoughtful and fruitful. Before you commence those deliberations I ask that you hear from our Prime Minister, who by now is a familiar face to you. That is because he understands very fully the importance of the work of the BMA and its meaning to global shipping and to the cruise industry worldwide. He understands the connectivity and the importance of your life’s work to the economy of The Bahamas. He more than understands: he himself is an advocate. Please stand and help me in extending a warm welcome of the Rt Hon Perry Christie, the Prime Minister of The Bahamas.
© Copyright 2014 by thebahamasweekly.com
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