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Michael Bernard elected first vice-president of JEF

Published:Tuesday | March 26, 2013 | 12:00 AM
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Harry Maragh (left), chairman of Seafreight Jamaica, greets Anthony Hylton (centre), minister of industry, investment and commerce, while William Brown, chief financial officer - Lannaman and Morris Group, looks on. The event was the monthly lunch-and-learn seminar hosted by the Shipping Association of Jamaica. The seminar was sponsored by Seafreight Jamaica. - Contributed
Michael Bernard
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Michael Bernard, a past president of the Shipping Association of Jamaica (SAJ), has been elected first vice-president of the Jamaica Employers' Federation (JEF).

Bernard was elected during a special members' meeting held on March 21. He and other officers were elected to serve for the period March 2013 to July 2014. He congratulated the outgoing president, Wayne Chen, and outgoing vice-presidents Bernita Locke and Rickert Allen for their sterling service to JEF.

Having served the JEF as the representative for the shipping industry since 2005, Bernard said he's honoured to have been elected to serve in his new post.

"I see it as another opportunity to serve my country. I am looking forward to sharing my experience in industrial relations and other spheres of business which I have amassed during my years in the shipping industry," Bernard said.

He will serve on the executive council of the JEF with President David Wan - country manager, Jamaica and Northern Caribbean CMFG Life Insurance Company; second vice-president, Raymond Eytle - senior assistant registrar, employee compensation, environment, health and safety, University of the West Indies; and immediate past president, Wayne Chen, chief executive officer, Super Plus Food Stores.

Noting that the JEF's role is in some ways similar to that of the SAJ as a members organisation, partnering with the Government where necessary, Bernard says the shipping industry has a lot to bring to the table, as pioneers in flexi time and flexi week and the maintenance of industrial harmony on the Port of Kingston for more than 20 years.

JEF, established in 1958, with SAJ as a founding member, aims to safeguard and promote the interests of employers in all matters affecting relations between employers and employees and to offer a wide variety of services geared towards enhancing harmonious relations within the workplace.