Durrant Pate/Contributor

Corah Ann Robertson Sylvester, chief executive officer (CEO) of Seaboard Freight and Shipping Jamaica Limited, is the new president of the Shipping Association of Jamaica (SAJ).

She was elected during the SAJ’s 85th annual general meeting last Friday (November 17).

Robertson Sylvester succeeds William Brown, who did not seek re-election after serving three one-year terms.

She will lead the SAJ’s managing committee, which comprises vice-president, Andre Rochester, immediate past president Brown, Anna Hamilton, Denise Lyn Fatt, Kim Clarke, Roger Hinds, Condell Stephenson, Neil Smith, Jedrzej Mierzewski and SAJ General Manager, Trevor Riley, who serves as an ex-officio member.

Yeoman service to regional shipping industry

For the better part of three decades, Robertson Sylvester has served in various capacities at the local and regional level. In 2003, she became the first woman to be elected president of the Caribbean Shipping Association. 

Robertson Sylvester remains the only female president of Caribbean Shipping Association. She is chairperson of the Maritime Authority of Jamaica and a member of the Caribbean Maritime University’s Council. 

For her sterling contribution to the industry, the SAJ inducted her into its Hall of Fame in 2021. In her acceptance speech, Robertson Sylvester declared, “It is a great honour and a privilege to serve an organisation that at 85 years old, has a legacy of service and a vast contribution to one of the most vibrant business groups in any economy.” 

Robertson Sylvester pointed to the development of the Newport West shipping community and strengthening the SAJ’s focus on training and development initiatives for its membership are among her focus areas.

Highlighting the severe infrastructural and security issues facing Newport West, the incoming SAJ president remarked, “the physical appearance of the community will continue to be on the agenda for the SAJ. Previous presidents have worked tirelessly but we cannot give up. We must continue, and I am pledging to knock on every door and engage everyone to further this process.”

Regarding training, she urged SAJ members to consistently operate at international standards to attract commercial interest, adding that the Association’s strategic partnerships continue to aid the preparation of those entering the maritime workforce and improve the skillset of existing personnel.