BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – DIRECTOR of Maritime Affairs McClean Hobson indicated that he and maritime lawyer Agatha James-Andries are robustly pushing the issue of Maritime Boundary Delimitation on behalf of the government and people of St. Kitts and Nevis.
Speaking with SKNVibes, Hobson said the urgency in addressing the long-standing issue arose from the 49th Meeting of the OECS Heads held in the BVI, in which the leaders were implored to push the process of Maritime Boundary Delimitation.
Hobson stated that Maritime Boundary Delimitation is a long-standing issue that the twin-island must not take lightly.
“It’s about time that we claim what belongs to us. St. Kitts and Nevis is not just about land mass…it includes our maritime spaces. At a time when resources are dwindling, we must be seeking for ways to increase our resources. If this means clearly defining our maritime boundaries in order to increase resources (such as maritime resources), then so be it.”
He informed that one of the main issues over the years has been the arrests of the Federation’s fishers for fishing in the waters of neighbouring islands, such as St. Eustatius.
“This,” he declared, “should be no more with the implementation of clearly defined and charted maritime boundaries.”
The Maritime Affairs Director stated that following the Maritime Boundary Symposium in St. Lucia, a request was made to the Commonwealth for technical and legal assistance and the response has been positive.
He pointed out that there are many objectives his department has set out to achieve, and one of them is “to build capacity for entering maritime boundary delimitation with neighbouring countries such St. Eustatius, St, Maarten, St. Barthelemy, Antigua/Barbuda and Montserrat”.
