This week in Portfolio, we take a look at the man who is at the helm of the Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA), Mr. Sean Matthew. Sean Matthew is an executive with over 20 years experience in both the local and international business environment. He has an in-depth understanding of finance, marketing and business development, a sound technical background along with an aptitude for modern technologies.

He was educated in North America, the United Kingdom and the West Indies. His qualifications are wide ranging and include, Diploma in Marine Engineering, Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) with honors in Mechanical Engineering, Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Mechanical Systems Engineering, Diploma in Port Planning and Management, Masters in Business Administration (MBA), First Class Certification in Naval Architecture and Thermodynamics. He was recently awarded fellow status of Fellow of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (UK). The first St. Lucian to achieve this prestigious status in Mechanical Engineering.

He has specialist training as it relates to Air & Sea Port Equipment, Policy, Management & Maintenance. His entire career has evolved at the Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA) with positions ranging from Assistant Engineer (Marine) to Senior Engineer, to Chief Engineer, to Deputy General Manager (Operations and Development) and now the General Manager /CEO (SLASPA).

Mr. Matthew continues to engage the academia and should complete another qualification by the end of the year. As a well rounded individual, in his younger days he represented St. Lucia on the volleyball and table tennis teams and presently enjoys a friendly game of squash with his closest mates.

In less than three years as General Manager of SLASPA, Mr. Matthew was able to oversee and achieve many of the projects laid out including the reconfiguration of cargo shed 6, the acquiring and commissioning of two new reachstackers at Castries seaport and the expansion of the departure lounge at Hewanorra International Airport. As a man with a keen interest in modern technology, he was instrumental in the automation of the majority of the systems at SLASPA which includes the commissioning of a state of the art cargo management system along with an innovative web-based statistical database and the installation of Flights Information Display System at the Airports. In tandem with this was the redevelopment of SLASPA’s website www.slaspa.com which facilitates improved communication with customers, a function which Mr. Matthew sees as a key to the future success of the organization. This foresight has led to his development of a Marketing and Research Department whose key function, in addition to product development, is to ensure customer satisfaction.

Of his many responsibilities at SLASPA, Mr. Matthew admits that employee relations and development is high on his agenda and this is no idle talk. In less than a year on the job, he was able to finalize negotiations of termination benefits after over ten years of discussions with the various Unions. In addition, there has been an improved range of training offered to employees and development of inhouse trainers. His passion for this area has enabled him to develop a business unit within the Employee Development section of the Human Resource Department.

A philanthropist by nature, Sean J. Matthew is an individual who is dedicated to the betterment of life and prosperity of St. Lucians. He sees the development of that nation’s airports and seaports as key to the economic success of St. Lucia and together with his management team at SLASPA he plans to see the successful completion of the redevelopment projects for Port Castries and Hewanorra International Airport. These projects will soon provide job opportunities and contribute to the overall development of St. Lucia.