CSA Past Presidents - Ernest Girod

Ernest Girod

1985-88 Jamaica

Ernest Girod was from Clarendon, Jamaica and he started work as a time-keeper with was the first man to rise from the ranks and become Chairman of the SAJ. After GK Stevedoring was renamed Port Services Ltd, Ernest constantly moved up the corporate ladder by dint of hard work, a quick mind and ability to visualise and organise improvements on the waterfront.

He was involved in the disputes over the use of pallets, forklifts and several other labour issues. From 1969 he was a member of the managing committee of the SAJ and he served two terms as chairman 1976-1978 and 1983-1984. He was managing director that capacity had served as chairman of the CSA and the North American section of the General Stevedoring Council. Ernest supervised the transfer of the SAJ headquarters to the Kingport Building in 1975/1976. His years of service were rough, as cargo five-week-long strike by US longshoremen eased the crisis in 1976.

In his second term, he guided the celebrations of 1982 when the Jamaican state had its 20th birthday.