Caribbean News
JAMAICA: Sangster International Airport – The Caribbean’s Premier Gateway
#MontegoBay, October 5, 2018 – Jamaica – The Sangster International Airport (SIA) in Montego Bay is being hailed as a signature landmark 
for brand Jamaica and the premier gateway to the Caribbean. Now in its 15th year of operation under an MBJ Airports Limited lease agreement, SIA, which connects Jamaica to more than 50 international destinations, has among its notable achievements, a record 4.2 million passengers passing through its corridors in 2017.
It also has the distinction of being named the Caribbean’s Leading Airport for nine consecutive years by the reputable World Travel Awards, often refereed as “Oscars” of the tourism and travel industry. Additionally, it provides employment to more than 150 Jamaicans, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MBJ Airports Limited, Dr. Rafael Echevarne, informs.
“We have really come a long way as a team and I can promise you that the best is yet to come. Also, it’s not just that we are celebrating 15 years… it’s kind of how we got here…and some of the initial challenges we faced,” he adds.
Dr. Echevarne says another feature of the past 15 years is MBJ’s willingness to constantly improve the facility’s physical infrastructure to create an authentically Jamaican experience for the travelling public.
“We are also excited about having a world class aviation facility that assists greatly, as part of Jamaica’s iconic tourism product,” he adds.
The CEO contends that the airport is “is yet another example of how Jamaica is setting the bar for the entire region”.
“For the past three years, we have been working on a number of initiatives with the ultimate goal being to improve the passenger experience by reducing queues at security check points,” he tells JIS News.
Dr. Echevarne further notes that MBJ Limited has been displaying Jamaican art throughout the airport and has ensured that “all our retail concessionaires improve their product offering for the travelling public”. He advises that several events have been held, and are scheduled this year to commemorate MBJ Airport Limited’s the 15-year milestone association with SIA.
“We just had an official celebration at the airport where a historical exhibit and a commemorative sign were unveiled. This was followed by an Airport Forum and also a visit by airport stakeholders, schools and civic groups, who came to view the Hurricane Hunter aircraft at the airport,” the CEO informs.
He adds that MBJ Limited will continue to support the St. James community throughout 2018 with its “Change for Children” initiative among several other programs. Change for Children, he explains, funds projects that support the growth and development of children in Montego Bay. Dr. Echevarne says MBJ Limited also continues to support the Autism Centre in Brandon Hill, and Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf, through 
this initiative.
“MBJ recently partnered with Spot Valley High School to provide mentorship support and, in addition, hosted a Labour Day project at the school on 23 May. MBJ will also continue to participate in charity marathons and coastal clean-ups,” he adds
For his part, Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Homer Davis, said MBJ Limited must be commended for transforming Sangster Interntional Airport into a world class facility that all Jamaicans can be proud of.
“They took over the facility 15 years ago and we all can see the improvements with our very own eyes.We all feel the sense of pride and the knowledge that we are an important part of the aviation sector,” Councillor Davis says.
By: Garwin Davis (JIS)
KINGSTON, April 29 (JIS):
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, says the outcome of discussions arising from the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) will assist in guiding the Government’s planning for climate change.
This, he points out, is important for climate mitigation as well as building Jamaica’s resilience.
“We look forward to the discussions that will, no doubt, take place. We look forward to the basis of planning for the Government to streamline its investments to ensure you have the tools that you need to better advise us, that the WRA (Water Resources Authority) has the tools to digitise its monitoring network, and that all of the agencies that touch our planning mechanisms have the tools. But we need to know what we are facing, and we’re guided by your expertise,” Minister Samuda said.
He was addressing the opening ceremony for the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in New Kingston on Monday (April 29).
Senator Samuda said given the fact that the climate has changed and continues to do so, investments in and collaborations on building Jamaica’s predictive and scientific capacity must be prioritised.
“Ultimately, we need to be able to assess our current climatic realities if we are to better plan, if we’re to insist and ensure that our infrastructure meets the needs that we need it to. I’m very happy that this event is happening… because this is a critical issue.
“Jamaica, last year, faced its worst and most severe drought… and this year, we’re already seeing the impacts of not quite as severe a drought but, certainly, a drought with severe impacts, especially in the western part of the country,” he said.
Principal Director, Meteorological Service of Jamaica, Evan Thompson, explained that the forum aims to, among other things, establish a collaboration platform for climate services providers and users to understand risks and opportunities of past, present and future climate developments, as well as improve inter-agency coordination of policies, plans and programmes.
Among the other presenters were Ambassador, European Union to Jamaica, Her Excellency Marianne Van Steen; Chief Scientist/Climatologist, Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology, Adrian Trotman; and Head, Regional Climate Prediction Services, World Meteorological Organization, Wilfran Moufouma-Okia.
The Meteorological Service of Jamaica hosted the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) in partnership with the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology and the World Meteorological Organization.
The National Stakeholder Consultation is a governance mechanism that guides how different sectors or actors work together to create products that contribute to adaptation and resilience-building. It seeks to create a road map for the development and implementation of climate services to inform decision-making.
NCF-1 aims to bridge the gap between climate providers and users. It increases the use of science-based information in decision-making and operations with the aim of generating and delivering co-produced and co-designed products and services.
CONTACT: CHRIS PATTERSON
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