On his last day of a four-day official visit to Jamaica yesterday, Trinidad Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley called on members of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) to take his country’s example and establish permanent missions to the organisation.

Such a move, he reasoned, would enhance participation by a larger number of member countries in the ISA’s work.

As at this year, there are 168 members of the ISA — including newcomer Azerbaijan — but only 85 participated in the 22nd session, which wraps up today. Only 24 of the 168 have established permanent missions to the ISA.

“Trinidad & Tobago holds that a diplomatic mission dedicated to represent the interests of a member State in the work of the Authority is critical to the success of this institution which we are legally bound to support in the effecting of its mandate,” Dr Rowley said.

“As such, Trinidad & Tobago is requesting that all States Parties that are in a position to do so establish either resident or non-resident permanent missions to the Authority,” Rowley continued. He was addressing the Assembly, the supreme body of the ISA.

Rowley arrived in Jamaica on Sunday for high-level discussions with the Jamaican Government arising from trade disputes and accusations of ill-treatment of Jamaican visitors to the two-island republic’s shores.

While at the Seabed Authority session, he heaped praises on the Jamaican government and people for what he said were sterling efforts as the host country of the Authority’s headquarters, even in the face of economic constraints.

“We cannot understate the significant contribution of Jamaica in discharging its responsibilities under the Convention [UN Convention on the Law of the Sea], as well as its undertakings pursuant to the headquarters Agreement between itself and the Authority in being an excellent host.

“Trinidad and Tobago is very satisfied that the Government of Jamaica is providing an enabling environment for the proper conduct of the activities of the only major international organisation to be located in Latin America and the Caribbean.

“In paying tribute to Jamaica, we also underscore the tremendous financial and other costs associated with its role as host country…despite a very difficult global economic environment. For these reasons, Mr President, Trinidad & Tobago salutes the central role being played by our sister Caricom member state to the work of the Authority as well as to the development of the law of the sea in general,” the Trinidad PM said.

With regard to the Authority itself, Dr Rowley commended the ISA for putting measures in place to protect and preserve the marine environment; providing research and training opportunities for member states through the Endowment Fund; and undertaking an organisational review, the preliminary report of which was tabled during the session.

He urged, however, that the Authority expedites guidelines for the execution of the policy by which it is obligated to distribute to member countries, payment or contributions in kind derived from mining the resources of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles .

“We can ill afford to sit and wait until there is exploitation to …begin to elaborate guidelines,” he said.

Rowley also pledged Trinidad’s commitment to the Authority, saying it has been a “responsible member” which “attaches tremendous importance” to the Authority’s role.