Deadline Extended for UNCLOS Essay Competition

Students who plan on entering the United Nations Convention On The Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) Essay Competition has a little more time to fine tune their entries. The deadline has been extended to Tuesday, November 27.

The competition is open to secondary school students enrolled in Grades 10-13, who are being invited to submit essays under the theme, "Oceans For All; The World's Common Heritage".

Chairman of the 30th Anniversary Planning Committee and Deputy Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the International Seabed Authority (ISA), Coy Roache, told JIS that the competition provides an opportunity for students at the secondary level to learn about the importance of the Convention and its significance to Jamaica and the wider international community.

Students can look forward to several attractive prizes if their essay is chosen in the top three. The first place winner will receive a five-day all expense paid trip to New York City, United States, in December 2012 where, he or she, will attend the Special 30th Anniversary Session at the United Nations Headquarters from December 10 to 11. This prize is being sponsored by Caribbean Airlines Limited and members of the Jamaican Diaspora in New York.

The second prize winner will benefit from a three-week paid internship at the International Seabed Authority (ISA) during its 19th session in July 2013.

"The recipient of this internship will receive hands-on exposure to the work of the Authority, the Assembly, the Council, the Legal and Technical Commission and the Finance Committee," Mr. Roache said.

A laptop computer, courtesy of Walkerswood Caribbean Foods Limited, will be awarded to the student who place third. In addition, the top three winners will receive a marine tour, courtesy of the Jamaica Defense Force Coast Guard.

Mr. Roache informed that bulletins have been dispatched to Regional Directors, Chairmen and Principals of public secondary educational institutions. He also advised that students could source information from the International Seabed Authority (ISA), located at 14-20 Port Royal Street, Kingston, or on its website, http://www.isa.org.jm. In addition, they may also use the Authority's library. They can call the Librarian, Michelle Bond, at 922-9105-9, to make prior appointments before visiting the facility.

Entries should be submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade (MFAFT) New Kingston offices, 21 Dominica Drive, Kingston 5 or sent via email: ieadmfaja@cwjamaica.com.

The Convention was opened for signature in Montego Bay on December 10, 1982 and attracted a record of 119 signatures, the largest number of signatures ever affixed to a treaty on its first day. Today, the membership of the ISA stands at 162.