Jamaica Launches its Candidacy for Category C Seat on the IMO Council

The Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ) officially launched its candidacy in the UK for a Category C seat on the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Council last Thursday evening at a reception at the IMO.

Addressing the IMO Secretary-General, Kitack Lim, IMO delegates and specially invited guests, Director-General of the MAJ Rear Admiral Peter Brady hailed Jamaica’s candidature as “an opportunity to enhance Jamaica’s role on the international maritime stage.”

Welcoming this opportunity, His Excellency The High Commissioner for Jamaica to the UK Seth George Ramocan, outlined a number of reasons Jamaica deserves its seat around the Council table.

These include:

- Representing the interests of fellow SIDs and LDCs.
- Being committed to the major international conventions for safety and pollution prevention, as well as incorporating these conventions into domestic legislation.
- Standing by its pledge to educate and train professional seafarers at the Caribbean. Maritime University through the strict standards required by the STCW Convention.
- Participating in the IMO GloBALLAST project as a Lead Partner Country for the Caribbean Region.
- Since the ISPS Code came into force in 2004, Jamaican port facilities have been continually recognized by the US Coast Guard for best practice measures.
- Hosting the Secretariat of the Caribbean MOU on Port State Control.
- The Jamaica maritime sector has played an important role in the increase in maritime traffic Jamaica is experiencing, including from the cruise sector.

In his closing statement, His Excellency said: “Against this background and our track record, Jamaica can contribute meaningfully to the delivery of the IMO’s mission in its capacity as a conscious SIDs Council member and also to significantly represent the community of nations of the LDCs. As a maritime leader in the Caribbean we therefore seek your support for our candidature to the Council in Category C, when we vote in December.”

After his address, delegates were treated to authentic Jamaican music and invited to sample some traditional rum punch.