The Caribbean state Jamaica seeks a strong[ds_preview]er role in the international maritime regulation procedures. Therefore, it launched its bid to be elected to Category ‘C’ of the IMO Council.
Addressing a group of diplomats and members of the shipping industry, Jamaica’s Minister of Transport and Mining Michael Henry said: »We consider our bid to be elected to Category ‘C’ of the IMO as a strategic move in order to raise our maritime profile in this governing body.«
He added that Jamaica is a Coastal State, which means that Jamaica’s maritime space is about 20 times that of the land space and a Flag State as well as a Port State with the right to inspect foreign flagged vessels.
Henry also announced that Jamaica hosts the Caribbean Memorandum of Understanding (CMOU) on Port State Control – a forum which involves collaboration among CARICOM and other States in the Caribbean carrying out inspections to prevent sub-standard ships in the region.
Welcoming the launch, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade said: »As an Island nation we depend on the maritime industry to support jobs and to import foods and goods. This move is about positioning Jamaica as a viable maritime hub; this will have the potential to attract more shipping and allied services, as we continue to grow and trade.«
Jamaica‘s Prime Minister Andrew Holness, in a video message also welcomed the move telling the decision to launch the candidature comes against the background of the importance of the maritime sector to the Jamaican economy.
He said: »The country boasts a remarkable maritime infrastructure built around the Maritime Authority of Jamaica. We are the location of the Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI) which is on the cusp of becoming the only Maritime University in the Caribbean region. The country has one of the top ranked container transhipment facilities in the region handling general cargo, break bulk and container, bauxite/alumina and gypsum.«
