January 2019 Business View Caribbean

32 33 ST. LUCIA AIR & SEA PORTS AUTHORITY at this juncture. And if we do not invest in our people in the company, and our infrastructure, we will lose any of the competitive advantages we have.We are late in the game, but we have to catch up and do it quickly. “ We have very strong links with the St. Lucia Tourism Authority and the St. Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association to mount effective marketing campaigns for the island of St. Lucia; as well as with many other different stakeholders, including the Airline Operators Committee, the Trucking Association, and the St. Lucia Shipping Association. Those are just a few of our stakeholder groups that we have a close relationship with, and that’s part of our mandate. Because the customer feedback is important to know how we can improve our services. Along with Customs & Immigration operational matters. Otherwise, we finance our activities based on the revenues generated.” B VC: Is environmental sustainability an issue addressed by SLASPA? C enac: “Last year, for the first time in our history, we employed a manager for Health, Safety, and the Environment. So, yes, our thrust is also in the environment.We have had our staff at supervisory levels attend various workshops on climate change. Through our HSE Manager, we also have links with the Minister of Health in terms of Public Health. Regarding renewable energy, we have been working with the Sustainable Development Department of the Ministry on some RE initiatives. “ A few years ago, we implemented RE on our security lights system at the Castries Seaport and we’re in the process of transferring that technology via a different vendor to our airport, for example, the existing carpark in our Hewanorra International Airport.We do have an energy conservation program that and other government agencies, they are all our partners in advancing and modernizing this organization.” B VC: Where does the investment capital come from for large infrastructure projects? C enac: “Traditionally, SLASPA has been able to raise port financing, but because we are a creature of government through an Act of Parliament, when it comes to capital projects, we would go to our shareholders (the government). Based on our Act, once we have to borrow funds, we need permission from the Minister of Finance. That Ministry plays an integral role in our infrastructure improvements. They are the ones who approve the borrowing of all funds; our reporting function is to the Ministry of Infrastructure on DAREN CENAC GM/CEO/CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE ST. LUCIA AIR AND SEA PORTS AUTHORITY Cruise ship docked at Castries George Charles Airport