Jamaica pledges continuing support to international maritime regulation as it is re-elected to IMO Council

Jamaica's commitments to its maritime development and future growth go hand in hand with its support of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the country's Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport (MSETT) said this week as the country celebrated its reelection to Category C of the IMO Council.

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Leading Jamaica's delegation to the 33rd IMO Assembly, the Hon Daryl Vaz, MP, said that Jamaica recognises and fully supports the IMO's work at all levels of its Government, institutions and agencies. Minister Vaz told the Assembly: "There is also unequivocal recognition and consensus in our Government, that the IMO is the competent body with the technical responsibility for maritime safety and security, environmentally sound, efficient, and sustainable shipping."

He highlighted the importance to Jamaica, of programmes which help Developing Countries, Least Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, such as the IMO's Integrated Technical Cooperation Programmes strategically linked to the Sustainable Development Goals which assist with capacity development to effectively implement international maritime instruments.

"Our ability to perform as a responsible and well-regulated maritime nation has benefitted from these programmes, which we fully embrace," he said.

Jamaica is fully committed to supporting the IMO'S ambitious new decarbonisation goals. The country's Prime Minister is a member of the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy which has pledged to bring a holistic approach to ocean management, balancing the development of the ocean with the needed environmental preservation.

The delegation also comprised: the High Commissioner of Jamaica to UK, H.E. Alexander Williams and his team, including Deputy High Commissioner Mrs Patricia Laird Grant; Counsellor Political and Economic, Mr Dmitry Robertson, and, Under Secretary Political, Mr Travis Barrett, Mr. Donovan Walker MAJ Board Member: Mr Bert Smith, Director Legal Affairs, MAJ, Mrs Jodi Munn Barrow, CMOU Secretary General, Ms. Tanya Bedward, Principal Director Transport Policy, MSETT, and Rear Admiral Peter Brady, Director General, MAJ and Special Envoy.