Antigua and Barbuda reaffirmed its strong influence in the regional maritime sector this week as it played a leading role at the Caribbean Maritime University’s (CMU) annual Industry Conference.
The event, which took place from October 1 to 2 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, was held under the theme “Embracing the Blue Economy: Navigating the Future through Sustainable Development.”
The Caribbean Maritime University, recognized as the region’s premier institution for maritime training, has been a partner of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda since 2014.
Through scholarships provided by the Department of Marine Services and Merchant Shipping (ADOMS) and the Port Authority, more than thirty Antiguan and Barbudan nationals have graduated from CMU with bachelor’s degrees in Marine Transportation and Marine Engineering.
These graduates are now serving the nation in both regulatory and operational roles at ADOMS and the Port Authority, while others have gone on to careers around the world, working aboard superyachts, cruise liners, cargo vessels, and tankers.
The opening of the conference featured remarks from Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador Dwight Gardiner, Director and Registrar General of ADOMS and Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organization. Gardiner, who in 2024 received an honorary Doctor of Laws from CMU, commended the conference for creating a platform where the Caribbean and North America can work together to advance maritime development.
Over the two-day event, regulators, industry leaders and academics discussed critical issues shaping the sector.
Topics included the application of Industry 4.0 to Caribbean development, strategies to make maritime operations more climate-resilient, inclusive approaches to policies involving indigenous communities and the sea, the introduction of cutting-edge training and education models, economic analyses of shipping decarbonization, and strategies for inter-agency governance of the blue economy.
Antigua and Barbuda’s delegation was among the most prominent at the conference, with several distinguished experts taking leading roles in panel discussions.
Darwin Telemaque, Chief Executive Officer of the Port Authority and Chairman of the Port Managers Association of the Caribbean, joined discussions on port management and development.
Lieutenant Commander Wayne Mykoo, Deputy Director for Maritime Affairs and External Relations at ADOMS, contributed to conversations on policy and international engagement.
Dr. Branson Belle, Executive Director of the Centre of Excellence for Oceanography and the Blue Economy at the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus, shared insights on education and research in marine sciences.
Meanwhile, Ethan James, Chief Executive Officer of Green Energy Management Inc., brought a private-sector perspective on sustainable energy solutions in maritime operations.
Through its delegation and strong contributions, Antigua and Barbuda underscored its continued commitment to advancing the blue economy and strengthening sustainable maritime development across the region.
Love seeing my country stepping up in the Caribbean maritime space. Strong leadership from Antigua and Barbuda can help strengthen the whole region. Let’s collaborate, not compete.