THE main conference room at the headquarters of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) in downtown Kingston is to be renamed the Kenneth Rattray Conference Room, in honour of Jamaica’s former permanent representative to the authority.

Foreign Minster Anthony Hylton made the announcement yesterday, in a statement to the twelfth session of the current assembly of the authority which is taking place at the seabed headquarters, Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston.

“I am extremely proud to announce the decision of the Cabinet to name the main conference room of the Jamaica Conference Centre, the Kenneth Rattray Conference Room. The Jamaican government will work closely with the secretariat of the Authority to organise a fitting ceremony to mark the event,” Senator Hylton announced.

He said that Dr Rattray, who died in January 2005, had made an outstanding contribution to the ISA from as far back as 1968, as Jamaica’s representative on the committee on the peaceful uses of the seabed and the ocean floor beyond the limits of national jurisdiction.

In 1973, Rattray was elected the first rapporteur-general of the committee for the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea, and played an instrumental role in the development of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which laid the foundation for the creation of the ISA.

Meanwhile, Hylton told the assembly, which opened on August 7 and will continue until August 18, that Jamaica welcomed the continued discussions and further exchange of views on regulations governing prospecting and exploration for polymetallic sulphides and cobalt-rich crusts in the area. He also reported that progress has been made in examining issues related to the protection of the main environment in the area.

“We now look forward to the completion of ongoing activities, including the continued development of the central data repository, which is expected to be completed in 2007,” Hylton said.

“We applaud the successes achieved by the authority, as evidenced by the recent application of the Federal Republic of Germany for a plan of work for exploration for polymetallic nodules in the international seabed area. We look steadfastly to continue working with the international community in building on these achievements in our dual capacity as host and as an active member of the Authority,” said the Jamaican foreign minister.

His statement was preceded by the report of Secretary-General Satya N Nandan, who said the deliberations would focus on issues such as the supervisory functions of the authority, with respect to the existing contracts for exploration for polymetallic nodules and the development of an appropriate regulatory framework for the future development of the mineral sources of the area.

– balfordh@jamaicaobserver.com