Kingston, 16 March 2026 — Her Excellency Mrs. Alveta Adderley-Knight presented her credentials to the Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), Ms. Leticia Carvalho, as Permanent Representative of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas to the International Seabed Authority, during a ceremony held on 16 March 2026 at ISA Headquarters in Kingston, Jamaica.
Ambassador Adderley-Knight is the Consul General of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas to Jamaica and a senior diplomat and Attorney-at-Law with extensive experience in legal advisory services, institutional governance, and multilateral engagement. Ambassador Adderley-Knight has served as Consul General of The Bahamas in Kingston since 2024, representing her country in official bilateral and multilateral engagements, including for the Group of Latin American and Caribbean Countries (GRULAC), Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM), and the ISA. Prior to this appointment, she served for a decade as Honorary Consul of The Bahamas to Jamaica. She brings over two decades of professional experience across diplomacy, public service, legal practice, and regulatory oversight. She holds a Master of Science in International Business from the University of the West Indies, a Certificate of Legal Education from the Norman Manley Law School, and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus.
During the ceremony, Secretary-General Carvalho welcomed Ambassador Adderley-Knight as the first Permanent Representative of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas to ISA, noting that The Bahamas, as a Caribbean nation and State Party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), has long shared the international community’s commitment to the principles underpinning the governance of the ocean and the deep seabed in areas beyond national jurisdiction. The Bahamas comes to the Authority not as a newcomer to its values, but as a country with a longstanding and meaningful connection to its work. In that in mind, she specifically recalled the dedicated work of Mr. George P. Stewart, a national of The Bahamas, who served on ISA’s Legal and Technical Commission.
The Secretary-General further underscored that, as a Small Island Developing State whose history, culture, and economy are deeply connected to the sea, The Bahamas brings an important perspective to global ocean governance. She expressed her confidence that Ambassador Adderley-Knight’s experience in diplomacy, law, regulatory compliance, and institutional policy would support the constructive engagement of The Bahamas in the work of the Authority. She also noted that the increasingly senior and experienced profiles of representatives accredited to ISA reflect the growing importance and technical complexity of the issues before it.
Secretary-General Carvalho congratulated Ambassador Adderley-Knight on her appointment and welcomed the strengthening of cooperation between ISA and The Bahamas. She expressed appreciation for the country’s commitment to multilateral cooperation and to the responsible stewardship of ocean resources.
In her remarks, Ambassador Adderley-Knight conveyed greetings from the Government and people of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and expressed appreciation for the warm welcome extended to her. She further acknowledged the particular significance of Kingston as the seat of ISA and emphasized the pride of the Caribbean in hosting an institution of such global importance.
Recalling the Commonwealth of The Bahamas’ early support for the Convention and the Authority, Ambassador Adderley-Knight observed that, for her country, the ocean is not simply a defining feature of the national landscape, but a foundation of its heritage, livelihoods, and future.
Both emphasized their shared commitment to increasing collaboration between ISA and the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and advancing the responsible governance of the deep seabed. The ceremony was marked by a warm and forward-looking exchange, with Secretary-General Carvalho expressing that she looked forward not only to close cooperation with Ambassador Adderley-Knight, but also to building a warm and lasting friendship over the course of their engagement.
About ISA
The International Seabed Authority is an autonomous intergovernmental organization established under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to organize, regulate and control activities in the seabed beyond national jurisdiction for the benefit of humankind as a whole. ISA is committed to ensuring that all activities in the deep seabed are carried out responsibly, using the best available scientific evidence and in accordance with the principle of the common heritage of humankind.
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ISA Communications Unit, news@isa.org.jm
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