The Caribbean Maritime Institute played hosts to a team led by Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Thursday, December 8, 2011. Others in the party were Minister of Transport and Works, Hon. Shahine Robinson; Actng. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Works, Mrs. Audrey Sewell; Actng. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Mrs. Grace McLean and Mr. Ruel Reid, Senior Adviser to the Minister of Education and Principal of Jamaica College.

The PM used the opportunity to endorse the Career Advancement Programme (CAP) which is one of the programmes available at the CMI. In endorsing the programme, the PM said, “I am pleased …to reinforce my support of this joint initiative of the Caribbean Maritime Institute with the Ministry of Education’s Career Advancement Programme (CAP). The Programme is one component of the Education Ministry’s commitment to improving access to quality education in Jamaica for all students.”

Continuing, Prime Minister Holness said, “When CMI accepted the unique challenge of working with this initiative, the decision was taken, with regard to CAP, to maintain the Institute’s market-driven approach to education and training and give the initiative a unique CMI ‘flavour’.

In highlighting the success of the programme Mr. Holness disclosed that since its inception on January 15, 2010, overall 17, 703 students had enrolled at 78 institutions across the island. He noted that the programme currently encompasses 44 skill areas covering 8 business sectors in Jamaica and that 70% of the NVQJ and City and Guilds students are now on the path to certification.

Speaking specifically to the CAP/CMI marriage, the Prime Minister explained that students had been integrated into the greater CMI community through sports and earned and learned (on the job training) initiatives where they provided support to the maintenance department for the repair of school furniture. “Additionally, 10 students participated in the CMI – SAS Security and Protective Services corps by providing support to a local high school’s safety programme,” he said.

“Actually, the qualitative success of CAP at CMI cannot be quantified. At one year old, CAP at CMI has realized a small part of the mission of the Institute of ‘redefining maritime excellence through innovation”, the Prime Minister concluded.

Also speaking at the ceremony was new Minister of Transport and Works, Hon. Shahine Robinson who commended the CMI for the role it has played in ‘not only dealing with the education and transformation of lives but also the imparting of skills and training which will ultimately lead to the betterment of Jamaica.”

“Today, I am very elated to join with my colleagues in endorsing the Career Advancement Programme (CAP) which is among the newest training programmes here at the CMI. The Programme is now celebrating one successful year at the Institute and the prognosis is that it has done very well thus far, “ she said.

Other speakers at the function were, Mrs. Claudia Grant (representing Rear Admiral Peter Brady, Maritime Authority of Jamaica); Mr. Ruel Reid, Mr. Fritz Pinnock, Executive Director of the CMI and Mr. Akeem Smith, a student at the Institution who gave the vote of thanks.