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Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade left the island on the weekend to participate in several activities in pursuit of Jamaica’s interests.
On Monday, September 11, the Minister deposited Jamaica’s instrument of accession to the Ballast Water Convention with Mr. Kitack Lim, Secretary-General (SG) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London.
“This demonstrates Jamaica’s commitment to proper management of our oceans and our recognition of the environmental and health implications of ballast water management,” the Minister stated.
During the courtesy call on the IMO SG, Minister Johnson Smith highlighted Jamaica’s commitment to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular, Goal14 – life below water.
The Minister also shared the developments in Jamaica’s maritime industry, including the expansion of the trans-shipment Hub and Port, and informed the SG of the impending upgrade of the Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI) to University status.
Senator Johnson Smith will then travel to Geneva, Switzerland to lead Jamaica’s delegation to the country’s fourth Trade Policy Review (TPR) at the World Trade Organisation (WTO), from September 13-15.
During her visit to Geneva, the Minister will hold consultations with heads of several important international agencies in that city. These include the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO); the Executive Director of the International Trade Centre (ITC); the Secretary General of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU); the Secretary General of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and representatives of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR).
Following the WTO TPR, the Foreign Minister will travel to New York to participate in the 72nd Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), where she will deliver Jamaica’s policy statement on Saturday, September 23.
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