Victor Roach Honored with AAPA Service Award

Longtime Barbados Port Authority official Victor Randolph Roach today was honored by the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) with its Distinguished Service Award. Roach, who in December retired from his positions as deputy general manager and secretary of the board of directors of the Barbados Port Authority, was cited for his role in advancing hemispheric understanding of Caribbean ports and for his contributions to the cruise industry. He joined the authority as deputy general manager in 1994. Roach served as chairman of AAPA's Caribbean Delegation from 2000 to 2001 and has served on the AAPA Executive Committee and AAPA Board of Directors. Since its inception, Roach has been an active member of AAPA's Cruise Committee. Although retired from the island's port authority, Roach remained involved with AAPA in facilitation of this week's Cruise Workshop and Executive Committee meeting in Bridgetown. Roach was presented the award today at the AAPA Cruise Workshop's opening session at the Grand Barbados Hotel. "Victor has been invaluable in helping members of AAPA's other delegations in understanding the ports of the Caribbean and the challenges that they face," said Agustin M. Diaz, chairman of AAPA, who is deputy managing director of the Curaçao Ports Authority. "He has been at the forefront of trade and cruise development issues and is a recognized, well-respected spokesman for Caribbean ports." Roach holds certificates in procurement and contract negotiations from the Inter-American Development Bank, in business management from The George Washington University and in protocol and meetings from Samuel Jackson Prescod Polytechnic. He received a diploma in computer in modern management from The College of Professional Management and a diploma in data processing and computer programming from the Barbados Institute of Management. In presenting the award, Diaz lauded Roach as "a man whose name is synonymous with Barbados, indeed with the port industry and cruise industry throughout the Caribbean and beyond," and as "a true ambassador for our industry." The Jan. 15-17 AAPA Cruise Workshop has brought together some 80 port managers, operations and engineering professionals, cruise facility consultants and marketers for discussions about international security measures, terminal design considerations, Caribbean cruise issues, cooperative marketing of cruise destinations, strategic itinerary planning and environmental considerations for cruise lines and ports. The event is to conclude with a tour of Barbados port facilities. The workshop is one of a series of professional development seminars held in conjunction with AAPA's Professional Port Manager (PPM) program.