SJPI students cop awards for excellence in maritime studies

Two students of the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology (SJPI) are the recipients of the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport Minister’s Award of Excellence in Maritime Studies.

Abigail Rollock and Shawn Seales were awarded for their achievement in the Marine Diesel Engineering Diploma and the Maritime Operations Certificate programmes, respectively, during a ceremony at One Barbados Place, Warrens, St Michael.

They each received a plaque and $750 along with a six-month internship at the Barbados Port Inc.

Speaking during Friday’s ceremony, Minister of Tourism and International Transport Ian Gooding-Edghill congratulated the recipients and expressed gratitude to the Port for not only allowing Rollock and Seales to intern but for giving two additional internships.

“My ministry is delighted to be associated with centres of excellence such as the SJPI and the Barbados Port Inc. This highlights our continued commitment to the synergistic development of educational opportunities at the theoretical and practical level,” he said.

Gooding-Edghill explained that the awards were presented as part of the Ministry’s 2022 World Maritime Day celebrations, marked on September 29 under the theme, New Technologies for Greener Shipping.

Minister of Tourism and International Transport Ian Gooding-Edghill (right) congratulating recipients of the Minister’s Award of Excellence Abigail Rollock (centre) and Shawn Seales

Executive Chairman of the Barbados Port Inc. David Jean-Marie said that over the past few years, the Port has created a positive environment for aspiring students looking to build a career in the maritime industry.

He said that in the last five years, 20 young marine enthusiasts have interned with teams based at the Bridgetown Port.

“They came to the Port as outstanding graduates of the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology Marine Operations and Marine Diesel Engineering programmes. These students were mainly assigned to the Marine Services Department . . . as well as in our Engineering Workshop.

“It was a great experience both for them and for us. We had the chance, through the eyes of these young students, to realise just how much work we carry out, how many skills are required to accomplish our daily routine tasks, and how little people generally know about what some maritime jobs really entail,” Jean-Marie said. (AH)