Alexander Williams, Jamaica’s high commissioner to the United Kingdom (UK), wants Jamaica to train more engineers and maritime experts so that the nation can become a naval power in the Caribbean region and improve its capacity to combat the illicit trans-shipment of contraband.

Williams, who was speaking at the launch of the 20th anniversary celebration of Green Pond High School in Cornwall Courts, St James last Thursday, wants to see Jamaica graduating more students who are specialising in technical and vocational subjects to transform the nation into a viable player on the world market.

“Jamaica is about to be a maritime power in the Caribbean, and Henry Morgan [former lieutenant governor of Jamaica] and the pirates had Port Royal as their headquarters because it was the natural harbour and trans-shipment point from north to south, and it still is,” said Williams. “Any big ship that would want to go to the Panama Canal, they are going to want to stop at Jamaica and rest themselves.