JAMAICA, Kingston (23 June 2017) – – The International Seabed Authority hosted its first public forum today at the University of West Indies campus in Kingston.
The Authority convened the forum as part of its public outreach to engage with and inform local communities of the work of the Authority, headquartered in Jamaica since 1994; and its role in the Sustainable Development Agenda.
The forum was moderated by award winning journalist and radio personality, Cliff Hughes of Nationwide Radio, and featured talks by the Secretary-General, Michael Lodge, his Deputy and Legal Counsel, Alfonso Ascencio-Herrera and the Director of the Office of Environmental Management and Mineral Resources, Dr Sandor Mulsow.
The Government of Jamaica was represented by Dr Kathy-Ann Brown, Deputy Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the Authority who provided the welcome address. Another Jamaica representative and current member and Vice-Chair of the Legal and Technical Commission, Ms Michelle Walker was a panellist at the Question and Answer Session.
Exploration Contractor representatives, Mr Yves Henocque of Institut français de recherche pour l’exploitation de la mer of France; Mr Soichiro Tanaka of Deep Ocean Resources Development Co. Ltd. of Japan; Mr Carsten Rühlemann of the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources of Germany, and Mr John Kurian of the National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research of India, also gave presentations providing an overview of their respective exploration work.
The forum was attended by government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives from various institutions and students from local schools.
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