KINGSTON, Jamaica — Transport and Mining Minister, Lester ‘Mike’ Henry is currently in London, England spearheading Jamaica’s delegation in its bid to regain a seat on the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council in Category C for the period 2018-2019.

The elections, which will be held during the 30th Regular Session of the IMO Assembly, are scheduled between November 28 and December 8.

Henry, who is Jamaica’s longest serving Parliamentarian, joins Rear Admiral, Peter Brady, who was earlier this year named as Jamaica’s Special Envoy to the IMO.

The minister said a seat on the IMO’s Council, Category C, is too important a position for Jamaica to be absent adding that over the last biennium the Government of Jamaica continued to promote seafaring as a viable career path for its youth and those from other Caribbean Islands.

Henry also noted that the recent upgrade to university status for the Caribbean Maritime Institute, has added tremendous value to Jamaica’s chances, as it is the only ISO 9001 certified institution in the region.

Henry returns to the island on December 4.

Jamaica has had a relationship with the IMO since 1976, but was first elected to the Council in 2007.