The Caribbean’s future prosperity depends on safe, secure and sustainable shipping, with regional cooperation remaining essential as the maritime sector undergoes rapid transformation, according to a senior official of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). Speaking at the opening of the Fifth Regional Meeting of Directors and Heads of Maritime Administrations (DMAR5) in Georgetown, on Sunday, Head of the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) Section within the IMO’s Technical Cooperation and Implementation Division, Carlos Salgado, said maritime affairs have become a strategic priority for countries throughout the region.

He noted that maritime development is closely linked to economic growth, trade, connectivity, environmental sustainability, energy security and national resilience.

“For the Caribbean, the sea is not a shared geography. It is a shared future,” Salgado told delegates gathered for the regional meeting. According to the IMO official, the prosperity of Caribbean countries depends on safe, secure, efficient and sustainable shipping, supported by strong maritime institutions, modern ports and effective regulatory frameworks. He pointed out that the global maritime sector is currently experiencing one of the most significant periods of change in its history, driven by digitalisation, emerging technologies and the transition towards decarbonisation.