Info & Updates
AUGUST 2011
CARIBBEAN COMPASS
PAGE 4
The Caribbean Marine Association Revamped The Caribbean Marine Association (CMA), held its second Annual General Meeting at Marigot Bay, St. Lucia on June 23rd. The meeting was held with the financial sup-
Left to right: Keats Compton, Donald Stollmeyer, Kass Johnson-Halliday, Ghislaine Agostini, John West, Anita Sutton, Simon Carey, Sam Welch, Bob Hathaway, Sharon McIntosh, John Duffy, Shamine Johnson and Eric Blommestein port of the Centre for Development Enterprise (CDE), under a wider project to the CMA: “Capacity Building of the Caribbean Marine Association for Policy Dialogue and Promotion of the Sector Towards the Goals of Many Islands, One Sea”.
The CMA is the regional association representing national marine trade associations throughout the Caribbean. At present, there are eight national member associations in the CMA. The main objective of the CMA is to promote and protect the interests of the recreational marine industry throughout the Caribbean region. Priorities include increasing awareness of the industry, harmonization of legal and regulatory frameworks, protecting the marine environment, enhancing visitor safety and fostering harmonious cooperation between member countries and their governments Immediate Past President, Hon. Keats Compton, advised those present that the CMA welcomed the support of the CDE to re-invigorate the organization. The CMA was first launched in 2005 with two years of steady activity. Despite active progress made by the CMA in that time, due to financial and human constraints, the CMA became dormant in 2009. At this meeting, the several areas of priority for the CMA in the immediate to long term were identified: • Establishment of a dedicated and sustainable CMA Secretariat • Increased membership base of the CMA including national marine associations, marine businesses and individuals within the marine industry • Marketing and promotion of the industry through the CMA website and through national and regional branding and events • Training for the industry • Utilization of surveys and statistics for lobbying and advocacy to Governments and key regional organizations on environmental issues (e.g. TBT anti-fouling, moorings in protected areas, holding tanks); safety and security; and harmonization of Customs and Immigration processes in the region (e.g. eSeaClear) through phased projects and cooperation with the Caribbean Customs Law Enforcement Council, with the ultimate goal of a single clearance and seamless cruising throughout the region. The new Board of Directors, representing each Member Marine Trades organization of the CMA were appointed to serve for a period of three years, to 2014: President: John Duffy, Antigua and Barbuda Marine Association (ABMA) Vice President: Bob Hathaway, Marine Industries Association of Saint Lucia (MIASL) Secretary: Kass Johnson-Halliday, St. Maarten Marine Trades Association (SMMTA) Treasurer: Anita Sutton, Marine and Yachting Association of Grenada (MAYAG) Immediate Past President: Keats Compton, Marine Industries Association of St. Lucia (MIASL) Board Members are: Shamine Johnson, Marina Operators of the Bahamas (MOB); Sam Welch, Marine Association of the British Virgin Islands; John West, St. Vincent & the Grenadines Recreational Marine Association; and Donald Stollmeyer (interim), Yacht Services Association of Trinidad and Tobago (YSATT). For the initial six months under the new Board directorate, the CMA Secretariat will be hosted by the Antigua & Barbuda Marine Association. For more information on the Caribbean Marine Association see ad on page 18. Bahamas Advances Marine Tourism Alison Lowe reports in the July 1st issue of The Tribune that growing the “underdeveloped” maritime tourism sector has been branded as critical to the Bahamian tourism industry’s future. Seeking to advance marine tourism in a strategic way, the Marina Operators of the Bahamas have accessed US$40,000 in funding from the European Union’s Centre for Development and Enterprise to complete a nine-month project aimed at developing a master plan for the sector. —Continued on next page