Jamaica's Ambassador To Deliver Keynote Address On Who Owns the Caribbean Sea

Jamaica's Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency, Stephen C. Vasciannie, will deliver the keynote address at a forum entitled "Who Owns the Caribbean Sea?", on Thursday, November 8, 2012 at 6:00pm at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), in Washington, DC.

The Forum which is organized by the Institute of Caribbean Studies (ICS), the IDB and a number of Caribbean Embassies to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Law of the sea.

According to the President of the ICS, Dr. Claire Nelson, the forum will bring into focus a critical question facing the countries that rim the Caribbean Basin. She said that while most often CARICOM countries take center stage in the discussion of all things Caribbean, the reality is for matters pertaining to the Caribbean sea, there are 32 countries, territories and dependencies that 'own' the Caribbean Sea.
Dr. Nelson pointed out that attendees can expect a lively forum, including an update on matters pertaining to the UN Law of the Sea and to the critical aspects affecting the sustainable economic exploitation of the Caribbean Sea.

Ambassador Stephen C. Vasciannie who will deliver the keynote address is an international legal expert, having served as a Professor of International Law at the University of the West Indies, Head of the International Division of the Attorney General's Chambers, and as a member of the United Nations International Law Commission. Professor Vasciannie also served as Principal of the Norman Manley Law School.

The forum will be moderated by Executive Director for the Caribbean at the IDB, Mr. Kurt Kisto.