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The Committee notes with regret that despite its repeated comments, the Government has not taken any concrete steps for the adoption of laws or regulations giving effect to the specific requirements of Parts II (Certification), III (Examinations) and IV (Enforcement measures) of the Convention.

In its last report, the Government is limited to providing statistical data concerning the training courses offered by the Caribbean Fisheries Training and Development Institute in the period 2002–06 and other training activities conducted in collaboration with Japan’s International Cooperation Agency, which bear little relevance with the scope and purpose of this Convention. The Government adds that at the regional level consideration is being given to the acceptance of the 1995 STCW-F Convention, and also that the Caribbean Fisheries Training and Development Institute has begun redesigning its fisheries training programme along the lines of the “FAO/ILO/IMO Document for Guidance on Training and Certification of Fishing Vessel Personnel”, which again is strictly not connected with the implementation of the Convention in either law or practice.

Recalling that in spite of the ratification of the Convention some 35 years ago, the Government has never taken action to ensure full compliance with its provisions, the Committee urges the Government to promptly consider the adoption of those legislative or other measures necessary for the effective application of the Convention.

[The Government is asked to reply in detail to the present comments in 2008.]