Harriat ‘Harry’ Maragh – a distinguished son of the Jamaican soil
“In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.” – Albert Einstein
IT GIVES us great pleasure to honour a humble, quiet, diligent, determined, and resilient man, Harriat ‘Harry’ Maragh. Blessed with a high level of perspicacity and solid business acumen; bolstered by training in Jamaica, Germany, the USA, and at Humber College in Canada, Harry has played masterful strokes, that have led to the increased dynamism and transformation of many aspects of the shipping industry in Jamaica and the Caribbean. His tremendous knowledge of and incredible insight into the industry, coupled with his deep understanding of local and global logistics, have resulted in major achievements, with a wide range of benefits nationally and regionally.
Harry’s resilience dates back to Calabar High School, where he was a scholar and a sportsman. He considers himself one of the greatest footballers, and likens himself to the best in the sport. In fact, it was only because Jamaica didn’t make it to World Cup that Harry did not play against Pelé.
Harry possesses diligence that knows no bounds. He entered the shipping industry at the age of 24 years, working as a documentation clerk, and quietly but steadily rose through the ranks as a top-class
sales representative, sales manager, general manager, and soon after, managing director. He continued along this path of growth and soon bought the Lannaman and Morris Group of Companies, which, under his leadership, has been transformed into the Caribbean’s most diversified shipping company and has helped to revolutionise the shipping industry in the region.
MOVER AND SHAKER
Harry Maragh is a mover and shaker with a tremendous track record for exemplary leadership. A former president of the Shipping Association of Jamaica, and an expert negotiator, he is credited with spearheading the landmark and historic merger of Kingston Wharves from GraceKennedy and was also instrumental in the development and growth of Seafreight Shipping Lines, of which he eventually became chairman and shareholder. In fact, under his stewardship, Seafreight Shipping became the first and oldest shipping line owned and managed by Caribbean nationals.
Chairman and chief executive officer of the Lannaman and Morris Group of Companies, his vision for both the cargo and cruise sectors of
the shipping industry has led to expansion of the group and major developments in the industry. He is credited with the establishment of regional routes with Carnival Cruise Line (the world’s largest cruise line) and Evergreen Shipping Line, which is among the world’s top six shipping lines. Harry is also the founding manager of the Ocho Rios Cruise Ship Terminal, one of the largest cruise ship terminals in the Caribbean for over 40 years, which he still manages on behalf of the Port Authority of Jamaica today. In fact, through his contributions, the port itself is a recipient of world-travel awards regionally and internationally.
Harry currently serves as a director for Kingston Wharves Ltd, Metro Investments Ltd, Margaritaville, and Advantum and is chairman of Main Event and the Kingston Port Workers Superannuation Fund. He is a former board member and continued supporter of the Caribbean Maritime Institute, which has recently grown to become the Caribbean Maritime
University, through the continuous support of persons such as Harry. He is also a former president of the Shipping Association of Jamaica and a former board member of the Tourism Enhancement Fund.
HUMBLE
Despite his many outstanding achievements and the many accolades bestowed on him, Harry Maragh, has remained a bastion of humility, who enjoys the simple things in life, and is always more concerned with getting the job done than blowing his own trumpet or receiving fanfare. He has served Jamaica, the Caribbean, and the wider global community with distinction, and has brought immeasurable value to the shipping industry and stands true to his mantra ‘Challenges come, we find solutions ... that’s what we do’.
Harriat ‘Harry’ Maragh, we salute you as a trailblazer and a visionary; an innovator, astute negotiator, businessman, father, and friend. We honour you as a distinguished son of Jamaican soil, a Caribbean citizen, and a global force. But most of all, we honour you for being a resilient man who has defied the norms and who has continuously made progress in unimaginable ways.