A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between the Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology (MSET) and the Universal Service Fund (USF) at the ministry in Kingston on Thursday.

The agreement is highlighted by a donation of $310 million to the Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI), which is slated to become a regional university shortly, from the USF, which falls under the ministry.

According to Minister of Science, Energy and Technology Dr Andrew Wheatley, the funds will facilitate Phase II of the CMI’s Capacity Building and Expansion project, which will enable the institution to build and operate at its current Palisadoes location in east Kingston the following facilities: The National Maritime Port Operations Simulator Training Centre; a multi-purpose laboratory, to be utilised as a regional training centre; and a Geographic Information System (GIS) Centre.

Wheatley pointed out that the MOU indicates that the National Maritime Port Operations Simulator Training Centre will be designed to produce locally trained, technical personnel required at ports.

He said that, at the same time, the Simulator Training Centre would seek to train CMI cohorts in: logistics, engineering; customs; freight forwarding, immigration, and other border protection issues.

He said that the Geographic Information Centre will facilitate advanced regional maritime research and sensitisation, assist in zoning fishing resources, and provide advanced training in geospatial technology.

“This training centre is also positioned to provide greater access to technologically advanced resources that will aid community development in east Kingston,” Wheatley said.

The three centres that the funds will help to operationalise, will also employ alternative (solar) energy systems, as the CMI delivers on its mandate of ensuring that it trains its cohort at and to the standards of maritime excellence that meet or exceed international benchmarks.

“The actualisation of this world-class hub, along with the ministry’s fervent implementation of an energy infrastructure that will more efficiently secure safe and reliable energy for the nation’s productive requirements, and also our focus on bringing the science and technology sectors up to world-class competitive standards, should result in the desired ‘5 in 4’ growth rate we seek, as we consciously plot our path to full development and economic growth,” Dr Wheatley said.

Other speakers at the event were: executive director of the CMI Dr Fritz Pinnock and Chairman of the USF Robert Lawrence.