Jamaica achieves record vote in IMO Council return

JAMAICA HAS been re-elected to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council, securing 129 votes, the highest number the country has ever received in an IMO Council election. The result strengthens Jamaica’s ability to represent the interests of the Caribbean, Small Island Developing States (SIDS), and Least Developed Countries during the upcoming two-year term.

Jamaica’s campaign was led by a steering committee comprising the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, the Jamaican High Commission in London, the Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ), and the Ministry of Energy, Transport and Telecommunications. The strong level of support reflects Jamaica’s long-standing commitment to the IMO and the confidence placed in the country across the global maritime community

Foreign Minister Kamina Johnson Smith, who led Jamaica’s delegation to the 34th IMO Assembly, welcomed the outcome. She stated that “Next year marks 50 years since Jamaica joined the IMO, and we remain as committed today, as we were at the start, to promoting safe, secure, environmentally sound, efficient and sustainable shipping. Over the years, we have taken a balanced view of the positions of all members while ensuring that the interests of the Caribbean and SIDS are adequately represented.”

Director general of the Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ), Bertrand Smith, noted that the result demonstrates the strength of Jamaica’s maritime governance and its consistent advocacy on behalf of the region. He noted that “The re-election of Jamaica to the IMO Council with the highest number of votes since our first Council election in 2007 is an endorsement of the significant work done by the Maritime Authority of Jamaica in representing the interests of the Caribbean region and Small Island Developing States at the IMO.”

He reaffirmed the MAJ’s commitment to promoting safe, secure and environmentally sustainable shipping, and thanked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and the Ministry of Energy, Transport and Telecommunications for their strong support.

Jamaica’s renewed term on the council will allow the country to continue shaping international maritime regulations and advancing issues critical to developing states. Through the MAJ, Jamaica maintains strong technical engagement with the IMO, contributing to policy development in areas such as maritime safety, decarbonisation, digitalisation, environmental protection, and port resilience.

The IMO Council election took place in November during the 34th Session of the IMO Assembly.