Senior maritime officials from 13 Caribbean Member States met in Georgetown, Guyana (22–24 June) for the Fifth Regional Meeting of Directors and Heads of Maritime Administrations (DIHMAR 5), reinforcing regional cooperation and advancing shared maritime priorities.
The meeting brought together Directors and Heads of Maritime Administrations, alongside representatives of regional organizations, development partners and the IMO Secretariat, to advance common priorities for the region's maritime sector. It was jointly organized by the IMO Regional Presence Office for the Caribbean and the Guyana Maritime Administration Department (MARAD).
Strengthening maritime legislation
A key highlight of the meeting was the launch of the CARIBSMART-Law Initiative, a regional programme aimed at strengthening maritime legal frameworks and supporting the effective implementation of IMO instruments across the Caribbean with funding support from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The launch included virtual remarks by Mr. Kamal Mohammed Al Junaidi, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), who reaffirmed the Kingdom's commitment to supporting IMO's technical cooperation programme and strengthening maritime capacity-building through international partnership.
The initiative will assist Member States in modernizing maritime legislation and strengthening national capacity to implement and enforce international maritime obligations.
Advancing regional cooperation
Participants reviewed progress on regional maritime initiatives and identified priorities to guide the future delivery of the IMO Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme (ITCP) in the Caribbean.
Discussions focused on maritime safety, marine environmental protection, port State control, maritime security, facilitation, seafarer training and development, institutional capacity-building, and regional technical cooperation. The meeting concluded with recommendations to strengthen regional cooperation and guide future IMO technical assistance across the Caribbean.
Following the meeting, participants attended a workshop on advancing inclusive governance and leadership in maritime administrations. The workshop explored practical approaches to strengthening leadership, enhancing institutional effectiveness and fostering inclusive, resilient and sustainable maritime administrations.
IMO Regional Presence Office for the Caribbean
Based in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, the IMO Regional Presence Office for the Caribbean supports governments and regional organizations in implementing the IMO Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme (ITCP). The office is led by Regional Coordinator Ms. Vivian Rambarath-Parasram.