PortMiami Executives Visit Jamaica To Strengthen Maritime And Trade Ties

On Friday, August 22, 2025, PortMiami executives Sonless Martin, Director of Global Trade & Business Development, and Stanley Rigaud, Intermodal Cargo Development Administrator, traveled to Jamaica for a series of high-level meetings aimed at strengthening maritime and trade ties.

The visit began with a joint session involving senior officials from JAMPRO — including Nicholas Sutherland, Manager of New Market Development, and Rochelle Lewis, Senior Consulting Officer – New Market Development — as well as key leaders from Kingston Wharves Limited: Chairman Jeffrey Hall, Group CFO Clover Moodie, COO Rodrigo Olea, Business Development Manager Alfred McDonald, Operations Manager Everton Thomas, and Simone Murdock, Manager of Corporate Services and Client Experience.

Also in attendance was Renee Pesci, Executive Director of the Arts & Business Council of Miami and the Coalition of Chambers of Commerce in Miami-Dade County. The discussion focused on fostering mutual understanding, aligning strategic goals, and exploring new areas of collaboration, underscoring the strong geographic and commercial connection between Miami and Jamaica.

Jamaica remains a pivotal market in PortMiami’s Caribbean trade network. In 2024, the port managed 18,368 TEUs of exports and 3,256 TEUs of imports in trade with Jamaica, reinforcing its role as the island’s largest U.S. trading partner. The delegation also toured Kingston Wharves’ terminal facilities following the meeting.

Further engagements included a meeting with Kingston Freeport Terminal Limited (KFTL), where the PortMiami team was welcomed by newly appointed CEO Carlos Cabrera and Clifford Anglin, Manager of Gate Operations and Special Cargo. The visit concluded with a courtesy meeting with Kerry Lediard and Jamie Thomas of RSD Shipping Agency.

PortMiami officials described the visit as highly successful, noting that the discussions laid a strong foundation for future collaboration and deeper integration of maritime and logistics operations between Miami and Jamaica.

Source: Caribbean National Weekly