Guyanese graduates as valedictorian at IMO Int’l Maritime Law Institute

DPI, Guyana, Sunday, June 24, 2018

Guyanese, Thandi Rosalea McAllister graduated as valedictorian at International Maritime Administration’s (IMO) International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI). McAllister is a Legal Officer attached to the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD).

The class of 2017-2018 comprised students from 41 different countries.

The 29th Graduation Ceremony of the IMO-IMLI was held on June 9, 2018, in Vittoriosa, Malta. The ceremony was attended by Secretary General, IMO His Excellency, Kitack Lim, Professor and Director IMLI, David Attard, Ministers of the Government of Malta and friends and family of the graduates.

McAllister’s in her valedictory address emphasised the need for maritime lawyers to chart the safe and proper course of safety and security on the waterways and noted that there needs to be more integration in the maritime and logistics sectors from a policy, as well as a practical perspective.

“Current maritime challenges concern issues of security, safety, fisheries governance, climate change and marine environmental protection and preservation among others. The oceans will remain the crucible of international maritime trade and with more than 90 percent of the world’s goods transported by sea, it is unlikely that the array of challenges will soon diminish,” McAllister explained.

Mc Allister stressed that her study is timely as there are unprecedented developments aimed at updating the maritime law to cater for new and emerging challenges. She noted that though there continue to be tremendous developments in the industry, the challenges faced by the oceans could still threaten the limited available resources.

This daunting reality, she said demands a uniform global response of States, Civil Society and Scientific, Technical and Legal experts. She charged her fellow graduates to build on the professional and personal relationships forged to maintain the industry.

“Each of us has a role in the protection and preservation of the oceans. This is our non-delegable duty. Let us be excellent ambassadors of the rule of the law of the sea and of international maritime law, remembering that each of us is as important as the other in securing the oceans and the resources thereof for the use and benefit of future generations.”

McAllister acknowledged her sponsors, The Nippon Foundation, for their generosity and lauded Professor Attard for his outstanding work in instilling the requisite skills and knowledge to the class of 2017-2018.

Guyana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Service Officer, Donnette Streete also graduated from this programme with a distinction. She was awarded the Lloyd’s Register Foundation Prize for her performance as the best graduating Lloyd’s Register Foundation Scholar).

By: Ranetta La Fleur.

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