NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (April 17, 2013) — The Nevis Air and Sea Ports Authority (NASPA) has a new Board of Directors. The seven member group chaired by Mr. Colin Dore, will manage the affairs of the Authority for the next three years with effect from April 01, 2013. The announcement was made by Premier of Nevis and Minister of Finance in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) Hon. Vance Amory, on April 16, 2013 at the Authority’s board room at Long Point.

The members formally introduced were Mr. Joseph Liburd, Mr. Clinton Swanston, Mr. Mackie France, Mr. Lemuel Pemberton and Ms. Florence Williams. Ms. Sonia Williams was not available then.  Mr. Amory told them that they had a contribution to make in the development of the Port and had to set out new objectives for the Authority.

“I do believe that you have a contribution to make to the development of the Port. Clearly you will have to set new objectives and new goals for the Port. One clear objective of the Board would be to ensure that with the help of the Chairman and the General Manager and the Airport Manager and the staff, to ensure that the Port is returned to its position of a profitable entity. That it becomes a Port which has the concurrence of the international standards and is restored to its position that it had once – I think one of the better run Ports in the region,” he said.

The Minister of Finance told the members that the task was not insurmountable and with their varied backgrounds and collective vast experiences they would succeed.

“You are not new and you know what it is to manage people; you know what it means to manage institutions on your own and I think the combination of yourselves and your energies and your expertise can in fact raise the standard of the Port.

“I do believe that we will have to look at ways of addressing the financial status of the Port … because you will have to determine the things you need to do to restore the financial viability of the Port,” he said.

The Premier noted that the Nevis Government held the view that the island’s main Ports in particular Charlestown and the airport had an important role to play and would work with the Tourism Promotion Authority to ensure increased activity in visitor arrivals at both ports.

“It is through the visitation of people and the payment of their airport dues departure taxes and so on, that we can hope to make the Port profitable. It will take the strain of the usual revenues of the Government because you would then be generating your own finances to make sure your operations are profitable.

“I can assure you that as the Minister responsible I will be working very closely with your chairman Mr. Dore who is again the Chairman. He was the chairman some five, six years ago and I think he did a very good job and having worked with him myself for a number of years I have the absolute confidence in his ability to ensure that things go well,” he said.

Regarding the sea ports, he said that through the Minister of Tourism all would be done to ensure an increased number of cruise ship arrivals.

Notwithstanding, Mr. Amory wished the new Board of Directors well during their tenure and explained that their three-year appointment would serve to provide proper direction for the Authority.

“The appointment is for three years and the reason for that length of time is that it gives the Board a chance to gel together, to give proper direction for an extended period. If you have a change for shorter periods then it truncates the whole process.

“So the three year I think is a reasonable time and in that time we can do an assessment for reappointment or for any person who feels that he or she would like to resign … they have an opportunity so to do but I don’t think any of you would want to leave you are going to enjoy your work so much you are going to have a great time.