Dwight Gardiner Ends Term as President of International Seabed Authority Assembly

Ambassador Dwight C. R. Gardiner of Antigua and Barbuda concluded his one‑year term as President of the 30th Session of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) Assembly for 2025‑2026. His tenure was highlighted for its importance to Caribbean nations and other Small Island Developing States, whose economies and livelihoods are closely tied to the ocean.

During the hand‑over ceremony in Kingston, Jamaica, the ISA Secretary‑General thanked Gardiner for his impartial leadership, ability to foster consensus among member states, and commitment to transparent, cooperative deliberations. The ISA, which oversees mineral resources on the international seabed, plays a crucial role in ensuring that deep‑sea activities benefit all humanity while protecting the marine environment.

Gardiner’s service is seen as reinforcing the voice of SIDS in global ocean governance and advancing capacity‑building and equitable benefit‑sharing for coastal developing nations.