Formal meetings at the International Maritime Organization mark the culmination of a much longer process. They are where positions are placed on record and decisions are taken. However, effective representation begins in advance of delegates entering the committee room. It requires preparation, regular contact and a clear line of communication between those following developments in London and those shaping policy at home.
The Maritime Authority of Jamaica leads Jamaica’s technical engagement at the IMO and regularly sends officials from Kingston to take part in meetings at the IMO Headquarters in London. They bring the specialist knowledge needed to examine proposals and promote positions consistent with Jamaica’s national interest and priorities. The High Commission’s role is to support that work and ensure continuity during periods when technical officials are not present in London.
That role has taken on greater significance following the designation of High Commissioner Alexander Williams as Jamaica’s first accredited Permanent Representative to the IMO. Apart from its central role in lobbying support for Jamaica’s continued successful re-election to Category “C” of the Council of the IMO, the Mission arranges meetings, maintains contact with other delegations and the IMO Secretariat, and supports Jamaica’s engagement outside the formal meeting programme. Between sessions, the High Commission monitors developments, attend meetings where necessary and report to Kingston.
This continuous presence matters because IMO discussions rarely begin and end within a single meeting. Proposals develop, national positions change and delegations need time to understand each other’s concerns. If a country follows the debate only when a major decision is approaching, it may miss much of the work that has already shaped the discussion.
For Jamaica, maritime policy is not a narrowly specialised subject confined to the shipping industry. As a Small Island Developing State, Jamaica’s economy and people depend heavily on maritime transport. What happens at sea affects our trade, food security, climate resilience and prospects for sustainable development. Decisions taken at the IMO, therefore, have direct consequences for our national development.
The connection between shipping and wider national policy also makes maritime knowledge increasingly important for younger diplomats and technical officials. Climate change, trade and economic security cannot be considered in isolation from the maritime system that carries most of the world’s goods.
As a young diplomat, I am conscious that my generation will live with many of the decisions now being taken. We will also be responsible for carrying them forward. With the climate crisis and the global economy becoming increasingly unpredictable, we need officials who understand how maritime transport supports resilience, and why the interests of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and other vulnerable economies must be part of the discussion.
This does not mean that every diplomat must become a technical shipping expert. However, it does mean knowing enough to ask the right questions, recognise what is at stake for the country and work closely with the specialists leading the technical negotiations. That knowledge takes time to build and should form part of the development of the next generation of officials.
Jamaica’s engagement at the IMO relies on close cooperation between the Maritime Authority in Kingston and the High Commission in London. The two have different responsibilities, but they serve the same national interest. Technical expertise gives Jamaica the substance needed to participate fully, while a continuous diplomatic presence helps maintain the relationships and coordination that support that participation.
Maritime diplomacy is not limited to speeches, formal submissions or votes. Much of it happens before a meeting opens and continues after delegates have left the room. It is the preparation, coordination and relationships built between meetings that national positions are strengthened and influence is earned. For countries seeking to make their voices heard, that work between meetings is not an extra. It is part of effective representation.
By Mr Travis Barrett, First Secretary, High Commission for Jamaica in London
