Ambassador Dwight C.R. Gardiner, serving as the Director/Registrar General of the Antigua and Barbuda Department of Marine Services and Merchant Shipping (ADOMS), and concurrently holding the position of Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), has been reappointed for a third term as a member of the World Maritime University (WMU) Board of Governors.
Founded in 1983 under the auspices of the IMO, the United Nations Specialized Agency responsible for the regulation of international shipping, the WMU is a prestigious independent accredited University based in Malmo, Sweden. The University was established with the primary objective of providing postgraduate training for maritime professionals, particularly those from developing States in various maritime disciplines. This initiative aims to enhance their capacity and foster the sustainable development of the maritime sector globally. The WMU has evolved into a renowned institution with approximately 5800 graduates from 170 countries and territories. These alumni occupy key positions worldwide, contributing significantly to the advancement of the maritime sector.
Ambassador Gardiner, who is also a graduate of WMU Class of 1990 and was honoured as an Outstanding Alumnus in 2013 said: “As a graduate of WMU it has been my honour to serve on the Board of Governors since 2018. The work of WMU is critical for the development of capacity in the maritime field especially for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) such as Antigua and Barbuda. I was the first national to attend WMU and since then I have worked with various donors to secure scholarship funding for others to attend for the development of our maritime sector. This is evident not only at ADOMS where WMU graduates make up a majority of senior management and technical staff, but funding has also been made available for persons in the Port Authority, the Coast Guard and Fisheries Division.”
Ambassador Gardiner’s reappointment to the WMU Board of Governors underscores his continued commitment to the university’s mission and the pivotal role it plays in shaping the future of maritime education and leadership globally.
Mr. Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the IMO and Chancellor of the WMU expressed his appreciation for the contribution of Ambassador Gardiner to the work of the University and his continued cooperation in upholding the success and sustainability of WMU.
