POINT LISAS Industrial Port Development Corporation Limited (PLIPDECO), operators of Trinidad's industrial port of Point Lisas, is the 2001 winner of the Caribbean Port of the Year Award, given by Caribbean Shipping Association, based on the port's operations during 2000.
Point Lisas recorded more than one million metric tonnes cargo output during the period under review, and has won this prestigious award for the first time. The Port of Kingston won the award on three previous occasions since its inception 1987, but did not submit an entry to the competition this time around.
The announcement of the Caribbean Port of the Year awards was made at the CSA's 31st Annual Banquet, during the recent 31st General Meeting, Conference and Exhibition, held in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
This year's Caribbean Port of the Year competition was most rewarding for Trinidad and Tobago's main ports as the Port of Port of Spain which was also recognised for its achievements during the year 2000.
Manzanillo International Terminal of Panama, which won the major Caribbean port award in two successive years - 1999 and 2000, was again among the leaders, receiving the CSA's award for "Dependability".
The Port of Castries, St. Lucia was recognised for all-round "Efficiency" during last year, while the Port of Port of Spain received the CSA award for "Growth and Development".
Certificates of achievement, were awarded to the Port of St. George's, Grenada for Improvement in Labour Relations & Tariff Structure; and, to Point Lisas Industrial Port Development Corporation Limited for its Staff Training programmes.
The winner was selected from the nine ports whose entries reached the CSA's Port Award Committee judges, who met in San Juan prior to and during the CSA meeting.
The Caribbean Shipping Association's Caribbean Port of the Year Award was established in 1987 to encourage, recognise and reward the Region's seaports for efficient, dependable performance. Seaports are critical for national economic growth and development and the CSA's annual competition was designed to encourage effective, efficient, safe and reliable port operations.
