The meeting concluded with remarks from Hon. Michel Chebat, Minister of Public Utilities, Energy & Logistics, and included participation from CEO of the Ministry, Mr. Leroy Almendarez, Ports Commissioner Kaylon Young, key representatives of IMMARBE, the Belize Coast Guard, the Department of the Environment, and members of the Belize Port Authority.
Presentations were delivered by the IMO-appointed audit team, led by Mrs. Claudia Grant, alongside auditors Mr. Patrick Frain and Ms. Caroline Neuman. During the session, the auditors shared their preliminary observations and highlighted areas where Belize continues to demonstrate strong commitment to maritime safety, environmental protection, and compliance with international standards. They also outlined opportunities for enhancement in alignment with the IMO Instruments Implementation (III) Code, which guides the IMSAS process.
Ports Commissioner Mr. Young expressed appreciation to the auditors for their professionalism and to all national stakeholders for their support throughout the audit, with special recognition given to Mr. Eduardo Simon, Belize’s IMSAS Focal Point, and to the teams across BPA, IMMARBE, the Belize Coast Guard, and the Department of the Environment.
Belize reaffirms that the IMSAS process is a valuable opportunity to strengthen maritime governance, improve institutional coordination, and ensure continued alignment with global maritime obligations.
