Transport consultant Mike Fitzmaurice has taken over the running of the Federation of Eastern and Southern Africa Road Transport Associations (Fesarta) following the resignation of Barney Curtis at the end of February. He will continue to run the organisation on a voluntary basis – as Curtis did – until he can make it financially viable. “Mike has been working in the road transport field for many years and is therefore familiar with what we do,” Curtis told FTW. Fitzmaurice’s own personal business has been, and will continue to be, carrying out projects in the road transport sector throughout East and southern Africa. “We see no problem with his continuing this business, providing there is no bias towards any one country,” said Curtis, who will provide guidance for the March 2015 to February 2016 year after which the new arrangement will be assessed. The industry has heaved a collective sigh of relief in the knowledge that the good work already achieved by Fesarta under Curtis’s watch will continue – from the harmonisation and NTB process to the maintenance of the e-corridor handbook and the website. The Johannesburg office of Fesarta will remain open and Fitzmaurice, who runs his consultancy business from Port Elizabeth, will man it for 3-5 days every month or as often is required. He can be contacted at mike@freightintoafrica.com. CAPTION Mike Fitzmaurice
