Category: CANA News

The Antigua and Barbuda government has hinted at the possibility of not voting in support of a Net-Zero Shipping Framework (NZF) aimed at reducing reducing emissions in the maritime sector.

The United States has already warned countries, including those in the Caribbean, not to support the NZF being pushed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), approved in April 2025 and is set for adoption during the Marine Environmental Protection Committee meeting that is taking place until October 17.

‘Like the United States, we are equally concerned about this transition and we think that there should be a deferral and if there is no deferral, then we clearly will abstain,’ Prime Minister Gaston Browne told the state-owned ABS, saying Antigua and Barbuda favours a deferral in the adoption of the proposal as it will likely affect cost of living for the people of this country.

‘ We will not vote against it because at the end of the day, we are one of the most strident climate advocates as we have been advocating for net-zero, so we do not want to undermine our overall position on this transition to renewables and to achieve net-zero as soon as possible.

‘But this particular initiative could result in significant shipping costs that would result in increasing cost-of-living and it’s from that stand point that we are likely to abstain,’ Prime Minister Browne added.

But he made it clear that his position was not as a result of the threat by Washington and that St. John’s was taking a position as a sovereign state looking after its own self-interest.

‘We certainly cannot support the initiative at this time,’ he said.

In a joint statement issued by the Secretary of State Rubio, Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, and Secretary of Transportation Sean P. Duffy, the United States warned countries against supporting ‘this European-led neocolonial export of global climate regulations.

‘We will fight hard to protect our economic interests by imposing costs on countries if they support the NZF. Our fellow IMO members should be on notice,’ they said.

Washington has said that President Donald Trump has made it clear that the United States will not accept any international environmental agreement that unduly or unfairly burdens the United States or harms the interests of the American people.

It said that this week’s vote on the adoption ‘will be the first time that a UN organization levies a global carbon tax on the world.

‘The Administration unequivocally rejects this proposal before the IMO and will not tolerate any action that increases costs for our citizens, energy providers, shipping companies and their customers, or tourists.

The NZF seeks to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from international shipping to align with the 2050 net-zero target. Key components include a Global Fuel Standard (GFS) setting annual GHG intensity reduction targets, a two-tier carbon price mechanism, and a credit trading system funded by penalties to reward zero and near-zero emission fuels and support a just transition.

The NZF presents a new regulatory era in which ships will be required to gradually adopt fuels that are typically three to four times more expensive compared with conventional fossil fuels. Given the long lifespan of ships, shipowners should prepare now for the new net-zero GHG emission regulations to ensure cost-effective compliance, both at the ship and the fleet level.

The Framework will apply to all oceangoing ships over 5,000 gross tonnage (GT). These ships are responsible for over 85 per cent of global shipping emissions and are already covered by reporting requirements for fuel data collection. Ships under 5,000 GT are currently not covered.

IMO Secretary-General, Arsenio Dominguez, said while the IMO Net-Zero Framework ‘is not perfect,’ it ‘provides a balanced basis for our further work ahead of its entry into force in 2027.

‘This process has been inclusive and thorough,’ Dominguez added, urging delegates to approach the talks ‘with diplomacy and respect.

‘Here, we are diplomatic and respectful to one another, we listen to everyone’s opinion, we take steps forward and we are always looking to improve in this ever-changing sector.’

The following is the CANANews and SPORTS Schedule for Wednesday, October 15, 2025

NASSAU – Prime Minister Phillip Davis has appealed to public sector workers to take into consideration the existing socio-economic conditions in The Bahamas as trade unions plan mass demonstrations across the country on Wednesday in support of their demands for the payment of salary increases to their members.

GEORGETOWN – Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary general, Dr. Carla Barnett Wednesday underscored the importance of statistics to regional development saying that the 15-member grouping is at the midpoint of implementing the 12-year Regional Strategy for the Development of Statistics.

ROSEAU -The Dominica Bar Association (DBA) says while it acknowledges the efforts to reduce the case backlogs, it has ‘serious concerns’ about the impact of the decision to re-introduce night court sittings in the country.

ST. JOHN’S -The Antigua and Barbuda government has hinted at the possibility of not voting in support of a Net-Zero Shipping Framework (NZF) aimed at reducing reducing emissions in the maritime sector.

PARAMARIBO – Former president, Chandrikapersad Santokhi says he hopes that the detention of his son in the United States in connection with his immigration status ‘will be handled carefully and fairly, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations’.

The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN), Wednesday said that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for September this year increased by 0.8 per cent.

It said that the main contributor to this increase was the ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ division which rose by 0.9 per cent.

‘The upward movement in this division was influenced mainly by higher prices for some agricultural produce such as sweet potato, tomato, carrot, and cabbage in the class ‘Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas, and pulses,’ STATIN added.

It said that the Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ division recorded aone per cent increase, reflecting higher electricity rates and rental costs.

Additionally, there was a 5.6 per cent upward movement in the index for the ‘Education’ division due to higher tuition fees for private schools at the primary level for the new school term.

STATIN said that the point-to-point inflation rate for the period September 2024 – September 2025) increased by 2.1per cent.

It said this was influenced mainly by the point-to-point inflation rate for the divisions: ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ (4.8 per cent), ‘Restaurant and Accommodation Services’ (4.1 per cent) and ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ (0.7 per cent).

STATIN said that the CPI measures changes in the general level of prices for consumer goods and services purchased by private households and that the September 2025 bulletin outlines additional information.

Caribbean-American Democratic Council member, Crystal Hudson, is appealing to the Caribbean community to stand with New York Attorney General Letitia ‘Tish’ James amid President Donald J. Trump-directed indictment of her by the US Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Virginia.

Hudson, whose grandmother hailed from Jamaica, said last Thursday, the Trump administration indicted James ‘on baseless charges, a blatant act of political retaliation and an unconstitutional attempt to silence her amid her investigations’ into his wrongdoing.

‘This is not justice,’ said Hudson, representative for the 35th Council District in Brooklyn, New York, in a message to constituents.

‘It’s a dangerous escalation in the ongoing effort to weaponize the justice system against those who dare to hold the powerful accountable.

‘A lifelong public servant, a proud Brooklynite, and a former representative of our own 35th Council District, Attorney General James has spent her career fighting for everyday New Yorkers , holding corporations, polluters, and predatory landlords accountable; protecting tenants, workers, and consumers; and defending reproductive rights, immigrants, and vulnerable communities,’ she added.

She said that James stood up to Trump when others were afraid to ‘exposing the corruption, greed, and abuse of power that have defined his career.

‘She made it clear that no one, not even a former president, is above the law. This indictment is retribution, plain and simple. It is an attempt to punish courage, to discourage public servants from doing their jobs, and to intimidate anyone who dares to speak truth to power.’

Hudson joins other Caribbean-American legislators in New York who have expressed profound outrage over James’s indictment.

The indictment, handed down on October 9, charges James with one count of bank fraud and one count of making false statements to a financial institution in connection with her purchase of a property in Norfolk, Virginia.

The charges come two weeks after Trump sought the successful indictment of former FBI director James B. Comey.

‘This is a vindictive and unjust prosecution, led by a compromised DOJ (US Department of Justice) and Donald Trump, a convicted felon, because Attorney General Tish (Letitia) James had the courage to expose Trump’s lies and hold him accountable for his fraudulent conduct,’ said New York State Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, the Haitian-American chair of the Brooklyn Democratic Party.

Bichotte Hermelyn also urged Caribbean and other district leaders in Brooklyn to join the fight in supporting James.

New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, the son of Grenadian immigrants, told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that ‘Trump has been blatant about his goals to weaponize the federal government against the people brave enough to stand up to him.

‘Now, he’s invented a reason to come after the highest-ranking Black woman in the state, where he was convicted of 34 felonies and civil fraud,’ said Williams, who succeeded James as New York City Public Advocate.

Brooklyn Democratic District Leader Anthony Beckford, the son of Jamaican immigrants, is also ‘calling out Trump’s unlawful indictment of Attorney General Tish James.

‘Now more than ever, we see a clear example of what tyranny looks like,’ Beckford, district leader for the 43rd Assembly District in Brooklyn, told CMC.

‘Our government and agencies are being weaponized for revenge. President Trump is using the Justice Department as his war machine against his political opponents – all because she prosecuted for fraud, exposing him for the criminal that he is. ‘

Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants, described as a ‘sham’ James’s indictment.

‘Let me be clear: this accusation, like the man who ordered it, is a sham,’ Clarke, who represents the 9th Congressional District in Brooklyn, told CMC.

‘The American people know it. The US Attorney whom Donald Trump forced to resign for refusing to carry out this case knows it. Even the president’s hand-picked attorney leading this case knows it.’

The New York Attorney General said her office had conducted a two-year investigation into the Trump Organisation ‘based on the facts and evidence – not politics.’

She said that ‘judges have upheld the trial court’s finding that Donald Trump, his company, and his two sons are liable for fraud.

‘I am a proud woman of faith, and I know that faith and fear cannot share the same space,’ James said, adding ‘and so, today, I am not fearful; I am fearless, and as my faith teaches me, no weapon formed against me shall prosper.

Lindsey Halligan, US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, said that, if convicted, James faces penalties including up to 30 years in prison per count, up to one million dollars fine on each count, and forfeiture.

Former president, Chandrikapersad Santokhi says he hopes that the detention of his son in the United States in connection with his immigration status ‘will be handled carefully and fairly, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations’.

Santokhi, who was head of state of this Dutch-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country, issued a statement amid reports that his son, Richano Santokhi, had been detained by United States officials in connection with his residency status.

President Donald Trump Executive Order, titled ‘Securing Our Borders’, calls for all immigrants who are undocumented, and thus in violation of federal immigration law, to be subject to criminal charges and to be deported from the United States.

But observers say the policy violates human rights due to the inhumane detention conditions, denial of due process, discriminatory policing, and exploitation of immigrant workers.

In addition, critics point to concerns like arbitrary deportations conflicting with both US and international human rights standards.

Santokhi said that his son’s residency application was already being processed by the competent authorities and that he was receiving legal representation from a lawyer.

‘As a father, I trust that this matter will be handled carefully and fairly, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations,’ Santokhi said, adding that he regrets some people would seek to exploit his son’s personal situation for political or publicity purposes.

‘It is unfortunate that there are people who are abusing this issue to inflict political and publicity damage,’ Santokhi said, even as he asked for respect for his family’s privacy.

‘In the interest of the privacy and protection of my family, I will confine myself to this explanation,’ he said urging the media to exercise restraint in addressing the matter.

Prime Minister Phillip Davis is leading the country in bidding farewell to one of the Bahamas’ finest sons of the cloth, after His Grace, The Most Reverend Drexel Wellington Gomez died on Tuesday. He was 88 years-old.

‘We give thanks for his life, a life that began in the quiet corners of the Berry Islands and stretched across the world, anchored always in faith,’ Prime Minister Davis said in a statement.

Archbishop Gomez served as Archbishop of the West Indies from 1996 to 2009 and his influence extended beyond The Bahamas, shaping theological discussions throughout the Caribbean and the global Anglican Communion.

Archbishop Drexel Wellington Gomez

In March this year, there had been calls for prayers for him after he was hospitalised suffering with stomach cancer.

In a statement, the Anglican Diocese of The Bahamas and The Turks and Caicos Islands said the Diocese shares ‘with immense sorrow that His Grace, the Most Reverend Drexel Wellington Gomez, Archbishop Emeritus of the Province of the West Indies and former Bishop of The Bahamas and The Turks and Caicos Islands, passed away this morning.

‘We give thanks for Archbishop Gomez’s life of devoted service to God, the Church, and the people of this Diocese and beyond. His ministry, as Bishop of Barbados, then as Diocesan Bishop here in The Bahamas, and as Archbishop and Primate, bore witness to a faithful shepherd, a principled teacher, and a stalwart voice for the Gospel.’

The Anglican Diocese of The Bahamas and The Turks and Caicos Islands said during this time of mourning, it was inviting all clergy, congregations, and faithful friends to join in prayers of thanksgiving.

‘May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.,’ it added.

Prime Minster Davis recalled that the late Archbishop was not born into privilege, but into purpose, adding that it carried him from the classrooms of Western Senior to the hallowed halls of Codrington College in Barbados, and later to St. Chad’s College at Durham University. There, a young Bahamian priest in training absorbed the traditions of the Anglican Church, preparing for a life of service that would span nearly six decades.

‘He carried himself with quiet authority, never loud, never seeking the spotlight, yet his presence commanded attention. When he spoke, you listened. Not because he demanded it, but because truth and conviction lived in his words,’ Davis said.

‘For me, and for many Bahamians, Archbishop Gomez was a steady hand and a moral compass. He reminded us that leadership is service, that faith must be lived, and that a man’s greatness is measured by his humility.’

‘To the Anglican family, and to his loved ones, I offer the sympathy of my wife Ann, my family, and the people of The Bahamas. We give thanks for his life, a life that began in the quiet corners of the Berry Islands and stretched across the world, anchored always in faith.’

The leader of the Free National Movement (FNM), Michael Pintard, had said when the Archbishop was first hospitalised throughout his life, Archbishop Gomez had been a unifying voice within the Anglican Community,’ and a devoted servant of God whose impact reaches far beyond the Church.’

Long Island parliamentary representative, Adrian Gibson, in a post on social media on Tuesday, described Archbishop Gomez ‘a guiding light across the Caribbean, a voice of conviction and unity, and a shepherd to many.

‘From his consecration as Bishop of Barbados, to his leadership as Bishop of The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands, and later as Archbishop and Primate of the Church in the Province of the West Indies, he guided the Anglican Church through defining moments in its history.’

In one of the closest finishes, Team Jamaica successfully defended their crown, capturing the overall title at the Caribbean Golf Association (CGA) Four-Ball Championship in a nail-biting finish at the picturesque Cinnamon Hill Golf Course here on Sunday.

The host nation clinched the coveted Ambrose Gouthro Trophy for the sixth consecutive year, but it was far from a simple stroll along the fairways.

In a dramatic conclusion, Jamaica amassed 91 total points, edging out a fierce challenge from Trinidad and Tobago by a single, heart-stopping point.

Bermuda finished in third place with 79 points, cementing Jamaica’s dominance in the regional golfing landscape.

Adding to the celebratory atmosphere, the formidable Jamaican pair of Owen Samuda and Dr Mark Newnham etched their names deeper into the tournament’s history books.

They retained the Francis Steele and Perkins Senior Men’s Trophy for an impressive third year in a row, proving their partnership is a force to be reckoned with.

Speaking after their victory, Dr Newnham shed light on the unique chemistry that fuels their success. ‘The special thing about this partnership is that Owen and I don’t spend a lot of time playing golf together. Owen is in the States most of the year,’ Newnham explained. ‘But there’s a chemistry, there’s a synergy, there’s a belief, and trust in each other that makes us play our best golf together.’

The path to their three-peat, however, was not without its early pressures. The duo admitted to feeling the weight of expectation competing on home turf.

‘We wanted to defend the trophy at home, so I think we put ourselves under a little too much pressure. The first day, we only shot one under, but then once we got a little relaxed, we realised that we were only two strokes off the lead. And we shot a blistering seven under on the second day. The third day was almost an anticlimax. We kind of cruised till the end.’

While the senior men’s team secured the only individual Jamaican victory, the squad showcased remarkable depth with several strong second-place finishes.

The female pair of Jodi Munn Barrow and Lisa Gardner secured a runner-up position in the highly competitive ladies 25-plus category, which was won by Trinidad and Tobago.

Jamaica also finished second in the ladies 45-plus category, behind eventual winners Bermuda, as well as in the mid-amateur and super senior men’s categories.

Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne, says his country has absolutely no interest in hosting any form of military assets, and that the situation regarding Grenada is ‘really a sovereign issue’ for the government of that island.

‘If they decide to accommodate the United States, there is nothing we can do. We would have to respect the decision,’ Browne told reporters on a conference call from St. John’s.

Last week, the Grenada government confirmed that the United States had written seeking permission to install radar equipment and associated technical personnel at the Maurice Bishop International Airport (MBIA).

‘The Ministries of National Security, Legal Affairs and Foreign Affairs are carefully assessing the request and reviewing the request in technical consultations, in coordination with the Grenada airports Authority and other relevant agencies,’ the Dickon Mitchell government said, adding that it is carefully reviewing the request in accordance with established national procedures.

‘Any decisions will be made only after all technical and legal assessments are completed. We wish to assure our citizens that any decision taken will be guided by Grenada’s sovereignty, public safety, and national interest, including the protection of our tourism industry, the traveling public, and the country’s economic well-being,’ the government said, adding it continue to keep the public informed as developments unfold.

But former Senate president and trade unionist, Chester Humphrey and former foreign affairs minister, Peter David, have publicly come out against such a request, with Humphrey saying he is prepaed to lead a peaceful protest march.

Humphrey said that the move by Washington is a precursor to launching a military strike against the Nicolás Maduro government in the Venezuela.

David, an independent legislator, said in a statement that while Grenada values its longstanding partnerships with both the United States and Venezuela, any actions taken must be rooted in diplomacy, mutual respect, and regional cooperation.

Last month, President Donald Trump ramped up US military presence in the Caribbean Sea ordering an amphibious squadron to the southern Caribbean as part of his effort to address threats from Latin American drug cartels.

A nuclear-powered attack submarine, additional P8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft, several destroyers and a guided-missile cruiser have also being allocated to US Southern Command as part of the mission.

The United States military has carried out four deadly air strikes in Caribbean waters over the past few weeks against what Washington alleges are Caracas-backed drug traffickers. The Venezuelan government denies the charge, accusing the administration of being a threat to the peace and security of the whole region.

During the United Nations Security Council meeting last Friday, Venezuela with support from China and Russia condemned the actions of the United States.

Prime Minister Browne said that the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the wider Caribbean Community (CARICOM) ‘will have locus to speak and to state their opposition if they are being pressured’.

He said he isn’t aware of any request before the OECS or CARICOM, adding ‘maybe there could be an intent but no such formal request.

‘Antigua and Barbuda has absolutely no interest in hosting any military assets of any country. We are friends of all and enemies of none. We are quite happy we don’t have any military bases or assets of any foreign power,’ Prime Minister Browne added.

On Monday, the US Embassy in Barbados announced that the Commander of the United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), Navy Admiral Alvin Holsey, is to visit Antigua and Barbuda and Grenada from Tuesday, where he will meet with leaders in both countries, the US Embassy here has announced.

It said that Holsey will hold talks with Prime Minister Browne and his Grenadian counterpart, Mitchell and that his visit is his first to both countries since assuming command of SOUTHCOM last November ‘and is an opportunity to further strengthen security cooperation with key partners in the Caribbean’.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne has confirmed that Antigua and Barbuda’s non-resident Ambassador to China, Brian Stuart-Young, is stepping down after 11 years as he bade farewell t0 outgoing Chinese Ambassador Zhang Yanli at a ceremony here on Monday night.

‘I have been in politics for some 26 years and I have had to interact with Chinese ambassadors.and I must say that Ambassador Zhang is one of the most effective and one of the most professional ambassadors that has served Antigua and Barbuda from China,’ Prime Minister Browne said.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne and outgoing Chinese diplomat, Zhang Yanli.

He said the fact that the government was hosting the special reception speaks volume to the tremendous work that the Chinese diplomat had been able to accomplish during her tenure.

‘It’s not very often that we hold these functions for a departing ambassador,’ he said, recalling that the ambassador arrived here during the COVID-19 pandemic and immediately sprang into action to secure vaccines and other assistance from China for Antigua and Barbuda. During her tenure she arranged funding support for SIDS4 and the OAS General Assembly as well as her signature project, the Booby Alley Housing Development.

Foreign Affairs Minister, E.P Chet Greene, said it is with a touch of sadness that he was saying farewell to ‘a true friend of Antigua and Barbuda’

‘For the past four years, Ambassador Zhang has not just been the head of the Chinese Mission, she has been a dedicated architect of a stronger partnership between our two nations. Reflecting on her tenure, one thing is without doubt: she has profoundly strengthened the bonds of friendship and cooperation,’ he said.

In response, Ambassador Zhang admitted that leaving Antigua and Barbuda was a particularly hard thing to do.

‘At this bittersweet moment, what fills me most is how valuable we both regard the good relationship between our two countries and people. We have always been joining our efforts to stand on the right side of history,’ she stated.

She said that China appreciates Antigua and Barbuda’s long-standing commitment to the one-China principle adding that ‘China firmly supports Antigua and Barbuda in pursuing development paths suited to its national conditions, safeguarding its sovereignty and independence’.

Meanwhile, Stuart-Young has described his service as ‘a privilege to serve the people of Antigua and Barbuda as an adopted son’.

He first visited China in 1983 as part of then prime minister V.C. Bird’s inaugural delegation and was later appointed by Browne in 2014.

‘When I presented my credentials to President Xi, it was part of a reconnection for me as I was part of the original delegation that accompanied then Prime Minister V.C Bird when he made his inaugural trip to China back in 1983.

‘I have watched and have been part of events in the early days with Prime Minister Bird and when the Gaston Browne Administration came in in 2014, the prime minister invited me to serve as non-resident ambassador. I have worked with four Chinese ambassadors over this period,’ he said.

Stuart-Young said he has been part of all the major negotiations between Antigua and Barbuda and China over the past 11 years from the modernization of the seaport, the community centres, the Booby Alley Housing project and many other developments.

‘I think my proudest moment was when the prime minister came to China in January, 2024, as I was pleased to open an embassy in Beijing for Antigua and Barbuda,’ he added.

Jamaica has reaffirmed its commitment to ratifying the Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW) Protocol of the Cartagena Convention, saying it requires one final step, which is the amendment to the Wildlife Protection Act.

‘I would have seen what I hope to be the last version before it goes to Parliament within the coming weeks as a parliamentary schedule takes shape now that Jamaica would have gone through its most recent elections,’ Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change Matthew Samuda, told the opening ceremony for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Eighteenth Meeting of the Contracting Parties (COP18) for the Cartagena Convention.

Jamaica’s Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change Matthew Samuda

Samuda told the meeting that ends on Thursday that Jamaica is not ratifying the SPAW Protocol from a perspective of symbolism, but because the country acknowledges the principles and the benefits of the Cartagena Convention.

‘We acknowledge that the SPAW Protocol brings to life greater protection for our oceans,’ he said, noting that as they deliberate in the coming days, it is easy to feel frustrated with the pace at which things are happening.

‘We’ve all seen the impact of ocean acidification; we’ve all seen dying corals; we’ve all seen deteriorating water quality; we’ve all seen the impact of warming seas and in some cases rising sea levels as we’re experiencing,’ he said.

However, Samuda said there is hope, as he has seen the impact of the multilateral process on dealing with the issue of fishing subsidies at the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the third United Nations Ocean Conference as well as the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on the plastics treaty.

‘There can be creeping frustration, there can be a sense that this is an academic exercise, but I ask you in your deliberations and in your discussions and your bilaterals and your individual meetings, that we redouble our efforts to strengthen the efforts of the Convention Secretariat, to ensure that we strengthen the intention to protect our seas,’ he said.

Samuda said that the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People (HAC) goal of protecting 30 per cent of the planet’s land and ocean by 2030 in 1983 was very far-fetched.

‘It means the multilateral process, though slow, does achieve what you want over time,’ he said.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Eighteenth Meeting of the Contracting Parties (COP18) for the Cartagena Convention brings together governments and partners from the wider Caribbean region to discuss and implement solutions for protecting marine biodiversity, reducing pollution, and strengthening regional cooperation.

Discussions will include new recommendations on Sargassum management, waste water, and pollution control under the LBS Protocol, as well as advancing work on the SPAW Protocol concerning marine mammals and wetlands.