Kingston Jamaica – 19 December 2024 — The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica, Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson-Smith, today bid farewell to outgoing International Seabed Authority (ISA) Secretary-General, H.E. Michael W. Lodge, during a diplomatic meeting held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, marking the conclusion of his 8-year tenure at the head of ISA and more than 20 years in Jamaica, in service to ISA.
During the meeting, Minister Johnson-Smith expressed deep appreciation for Secretary-General Lodge’s leadership and dedicated service. “Jamaica sincerely thanks Secretary-General Lodge for his dedicated leadership and unwavering commitment to the International Seabed Authority. During his tenure, remarkable strides were made in fostering collaboration in global ocean governance and in advancing the sustainable development agenda.”
“As the host country, we are incredibly proud of the Authority’s accomplishments under his stewardship, which have reinforced the ISA’s mandate to ensure the protection and sustainable use of marine resources for the benefit of humankind. We appreciate the invaluable contribution made by Mr. Lodge and wish him all the very best in his future endeavours”, Minister Johnson-Smith concluded.
Minister Johnson-Smith also congratulated Secretary-General Lodge for his remarkable leadership, placing ISA’s headquarters in Kingston into a vital centre for international deep-sea governance and diplomacy.
Reflecting upon the many years of fruitful cooperation between ISA and its host country, Mr. Lodge expressed appreciation for the ongoing support provided by Jamaica. “Jamaica has been a warm and generous host to ISA and to all our staff and delegates. It has been a pleasure to work with the Government of Jamaica as the institution has grown and developed over the past 8 years. Their support has ensured ISA’s central role in ensuring the stewardship of the Area and its resources for the benefit of all humankind”
“Our Jamaican hosts have provided a safe, collaborative and supportive space for all our staff and everyone attending ISA international intergovernmental meetings. Their support has ensured ISA’s central role in ensuring the stewardship of the Area and its resources for the benefit of all humankind”, he added.
Coinciding with the celebration of the 30th Anniversary of ISA this year, the longstanding partnership between Jamaica and ISA was recognized by both sides as having reached new highs in recent years.
Minister Johnson-Smith highlighted that Secretary-General Lodge‘s legacy would continue to influence ISA’s future endeavours to ensure the sustainable management of deep-sea resources for future generations.
Looking ahead to 2025, Minister Johnson-Smith emphasized Jamaica’s continued role in supporting ISA’s critical work on the Mining Code, reinforcing the nation’s dedication to advancing international cooperation in deep-sea governance.
About ISA
The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is an autonomous intergovernmental organization mandated by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to manage the mineral resources of the seabed beyond national jurisdiction for the shared benefit of humankind. ISA is committed to the principle that all economic activities in the deep seabed, including deep-seabed mining, must be regulated and responsibly managed using the best available scientific evidence for the benefit of all nations of the world. ISA works to ensure that the voices of all States, including developing States and other stakeholders, are effectively heard in discussions around the sustainable development of the deep seabed.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Mr. Philip Janikowski, Communications Specialist, ISA, pjanikowski@isa.org.jm