The International Seabed Authority (ISA) today announced that the second part of the 26th session of ISA initially scheduled to be held in July 2020 will be postponed, due to the COVID-19 epidemic. The session will instead take place in a reduced format in Kingston, Jamaica from 7 to 16 October 2020, with meetings of some of the technical bodies convened remotely starting from July 2020.
The decision has been taken in consultation with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica, Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith, who is also the incumbent President of the ISA Assembly, with all parties in agreement on this course of action.
“The Secretariat is fully supportive of the efforts of the Government of Jamaica to ensure human health, safety and well-being in the face of the threat caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and will continue to work closely with the Government to ensure that the work of ISA can proceed as efficiently as possible,” said ISA Secretary-General Mr. Michael W. Lodge.
“I wish to express my appreciation to the Government of Jamaica for its steadfast support for the work of ISA and its commitment to the successful convening of the 26th session as soon as circumstances allow,” he added.
In the meantime, all pre-session documentation for the Council and Assembly that would have been examined in July 2020 will be made available on the ISA website in accordance with the established timelines.
Further information will be issued in due course.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Ms. Katie Elles, Communications Specialist, International Seabed Authority M: +1 (876) 835 3801/ E: kelles@isa.org.jm
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For more information visit our website www.isa.org.jm or follow us on Twitter @ISBAHQ