"Learn to adapt to these changing economic circumstances and be ready to change again and again." This is the message Roger Hinds, president of the Shipping Association of Jamaica (SAJ), delivered in the parish of St Ann last Thursday.

Hinds, who was speaking at the opening of the SAJ's exhibition of photographs and artefacts at the St Ann Parish Library, encouraged individuals not to despair in this time of economic challenges, but instead, to banish doubt and trust in their businesses and individual abilities to create new opportunities.

"Instead of focusing on the problem and becoming overwhelmed with a negative internal dialogue which squeezes out our creativity, we should stay focused and allow our inner wisdom to surface," Hinds said.

Retool, reshape, reorganise

Hinds

The SAJ president said that during this downturn, businesses in every sector of the economy should retool, reshape and reorganise their operational structure and reaffirm their business for the future. He suggested that they explore new services and products to redefine their relevance.

For a parish like St Ann, which is rich in tourism, agriculture, music and sports, Hinds said he is sure it would rise again as the economy makes a turn for the better.

Custos of St Ann, Radcliffe O. Walters, congratulated the SAJ on its 70th anniversary, noting that it was a unique representation of the history of shipping in Jamaica and will no doubt serve as an inspiration to entrepreneurs and lead to the creation of employment. "I have no doubt that the objective of this exhibition is to communicate and educate. It will allow for the improvement of the mind and the quality of relationships with each other," he said. General manager of the SAJ, Trevor Riley, responded by saying that there were greater plans for the SAJ's exhibition. "The SAJ's exhibition will form the base for the development of a maritime museum in Jamaica," Riley said.

Mayor Ivan Anderson commended the SAJ's exhibition noting that the creative representation of the history of the shipping industry was a very good one. He invited the SAJ to assist the parish of St Ann to develop an exhibition of its own, depicting historic landmarks and buildings to serve as a reminder for the next generation.

The SAJ's exhibition highlights the last seven decades of shipping through the eyes of the association.

The exhibition will travel next to the St James parish library between March 20 and April 2.