thebahamasweekly.com - Minister of Transport participated in IMO Symposium on Maritime Transportation

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Minister of Transport participated in IMO Symposium on Maritime Transportation
By Ministry Of Transport And Local Government
Feb 27, 2019 - 10:00:11 PM

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica -- Minister of Transport and Local Government, the Hon. Renward Wells attended a high level ministerial symposium on 'Maritime Transportation: Harnessing the Blue Economy for the Sustainable Development of the Caribbean,' February 27, 2019 in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Minister Wells is pictured standing second right with other Caribbean ministers and also in photo op with International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary General Mr. Kitack Lim. The Bahamas delegation included Captain Dwain Hutchinson, Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) Managing Director; Katie Clarke, BMA Nassau Branch Manager; and Commander Raymond King, Port Controller, Port Department.

Harnessing the Blue Economy

The Honorable Renward R. Wells, Minister of Transport and Local Government, led The Bahamas’ delegation to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) High Level Symposium (HLS) for Caribbean Ministers of Transport which is being held in Montego Bay, Jamaica on 27th February, 2019. The Ministerial Symposium was preceded by a meeting of Caribbean Senior Maritime Administrators which was attended by representatives from eighteen (18) Caribbean Member States and six (6) Observer States. The Bahamas’ delegation comprises of Captain Dwain Hutchinson, Bahamas Maritime Authority’s (BMA) Acting Managing Director & CEO; Mrs. Katie Clarke, BMA Nassau branch manager and Commander Raymond King, Acting Port Controller.

The meeting’s theme was ‘Maritime Transportation: Harnessing the Blue Economy for the Sustainability Development of the Caribbean. The objective of the HLS was to update policymakers on the important challenges the States in the region face in ensuring the preservation of the marine environment on which they are heavily dependent for their socio-economic wellbeing. The Symposium sought to identify strategies to assist States in meeting their obligations under the IMO, particularly the marine environment protection and liability and compensation instruments.

The IMO Secretary General Mr. Kitack Lim in addressing the meeting highlighted IMO’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and specifically SDG #14 “Life below the waters - conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.” Delegates were also reminded that the Blue Economy extended beyond Maritime Transport as its economic benefit and environmental impact also encompassed, among other sectors Tourism, Fisheries and Agriculture.

Minister Wells and IMO Secretary General Kitack Lim

The attending Ministers and Caribbean Senior Maritime Administrators engaged in constructive and active dialogue with the World Bank (WB), Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Caribbean MOU on Port State Control, NAMEPA, Caribbean Maritime University, UNEP/RAC-REMPEITC and Women in Maritime Association Caribbean to address environmental challenges within the regions and possible solutions to address the same.

The outcome of the meeting was the adoption of a Resolution reaffirming the Caribbean Minister’s commitment to regional support and cooperation aimed at factoring in the Blue Economy when considering the long term sustainability of the Caribbean Sea including adoption and implementation of the IMO Instruments.