Transport minister declares membership would demonstrate island’s worth

Jamaica has kick-started its campaign for re-election to membership in the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

The island will compete against 173 other IMO member states for its position on the IMO’s Council.

Speaking during the country’s virtual launch event to launch its campaign for re-election to Category C membership of the IMO Council for 2022-2023, Transport Minister Robert Montague reported that re-election would “communicate to our nation and the world at large that we believe in our worth, capability and leadership”.

Pointing out that Jamaica’s important shipping industry and economically vital cruise sector have been seriously impacted by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Montague praised the maritime community’s “indomitable spirit” which is now driving Jamaica forward again. He argued that Jamaica’s search for a second term on the IMO is important for strengthening the island and the Caribbean region’s global position in the maritime sector.

The minister, who proudly led Jamaica’s team at the previous IMO elections in 2019, told guests: “We consider our bid to be elected to Category ‘C’ of the IMO as a strategic move which will also raise our Small Island Developing States’ maritime profile in this governing body”.

Regaining its place on the IMO Council, a position it has held since 2007, will allow Jamaica to continue advocating for the development of uniform standards for international shipping.

This is in addition to advancing the issues of the Caribbean region, as well as playing an active role in environmental protection and the global fight against climate change and its impacts.

Championing Jamaica’s wealth of maritime expertise

Emphasising the importance of maritime matters to Jamaica, Montague explained that the island’s maritime space is about 20 times that of its land area. This is a large coastal area to monitor, preserve and protect while affording freedom of navigation for international maritime traffic.

In championing the island’s wealth of maritime expertise, the transport minister said the Holness administration has demonstrated that, through the provision of massive investments in maritime and ports infrastructure, maritime education and training as well as a qualified work force, among a host of other relevant attributes, Jamaica qualifies for a place on the IMO Council.

“Our plans to position Jamaica as a viable shipping centre, a subset of the Logistics Hub, will continue in spite of the obvious economic shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic. This has the potential to attract more shipping and allied services, and to be a driver of economic development,” Montague said.

According to him, “the resilience of international shipping has again proven that the application of robust uniform rules and standards will guarantee uninterrupted vital trade for our lives and livelihood, in spite of this new challenge faced over the past 15 months. Import and export trade has been guaranteed because ships have kept sailing even while there have been major welfare problems with crewing.”

Montague concluded that his largely uninterrupted trade is possible because of the pervading influence of the uniform global application of standards promulgated by the IMO through robust treaties and regulations which have been adopted and effectively implemented by member states.