Kingston, Jamaica – The Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), Ms. Leticia Carvalho, paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica, the Honorable Mrs. Kamina Johnson-Smith, at the offices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade in Kingston, Jamaica on 15 January 2025.
In welcoming the Secretary-General to Jamaica, Minister Johnson-Smith congratulated Ms. Carvalho on her election as the first woman, oceanographer and national of the Latin-American and Caribbean region to be elected to the position during the thirty-year history of the ISA.
During the meeting, Minister Johnson-Smith reiterated that as host country, the Government and people of Jamaica remain committed to the ISA. “On behalf of the Government and people of Jamaica, I warmly welcome Secretary-General Carvalho as she assumes leadership of the International Seabed Authority. Jamaica places great importance on ocean protection and sustainability, and through the ISA, we look forward to deepening our collaboration to advance ongoing negotiations on the mining regulations, while promoting the sustainable use of marine resources and safeguarding the marine environment. As host to the ISA, Jamaica remains committed to the further strengthening of the positive relations under Ms. Carvalho’s leadership,” said the Minister.
The Secretary-General thanked the Honourable Minister for meeting with her so soon in her term of office and also used the opportunity to highlight some of her priorities for her term of office, as well as steps she will be taking over the next few months as she delivers on her mandate under the Convention and the 1994 Agreement. Without elaborating too much, Ms. Carvalho articulated that: “In my first 100 days, I am committed to listening and learning to better understand the priorities, challenges, and aspirations of Member States and stakeholders. This collaborative foundation will guide informed decisions that reflect our collective goals, address pressing challenges, and align our work with emerging global ocean governance frameworks such as the 2023Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) while remaining anchored to the ISA’s core mandate under UNCLOS. To meet these challenges requires strengthening our operational capacity, fostering synergies with international partners, and ensuring robust, responsive governance mechanisms.”
In recognizing the key role that Jamaica continues to play as host country of the ISA, Ms. Carvalho aims to build on the existing relationship between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica and other relevant agencies and ISA. She reiterated that: “I am deeply grateful to the Government and people of Jamaica for providing a home to the ISA and for fostering an environment where multilateral collaboration can thrive. The warm welcome extended to my family and me has been truly meaningful, and I look forward to strengthening our partnership as we work together to address the challenges and opportunities of the future.”
This meeting marks a meaningful milestone in the ISA’s history, reflecting the enduring partnership between Jamaica and the ISA as they advance their shared commitment to sustainable development and the responsible stewardship of the world’s seabed resources.
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.
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ISA’s Communications Unit at news@isa.org.jm