Mr. Damian Rowe stands as a stalwart guardian of Jamaica’s botanical heritage. Born with an innate passion for plants and a deep love for the environment, he has dedicated his life to the preservation and protection of Jamaica’s flora.
Mr. Rowe is currently the Acting Chief Plant Quarantine/Produce Inspector at the Plant Quarantine/Produce Inspection Branch (National Plant Protection Organization of Jamaica) within the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Mining. Prior to this, he served in positions that included operating the WTO SPS Enquiry Point, Plant Quarantine Inspection Service and Fumigation Services for over 15 years.
He is instrumental in the development of safeguarding mechanisms to secure Jamaica’s border and actively participates in standard-setting at the IPPC and Codex Alimentarius levels. Jamaica’s National Phytosanitary Permit System and the country’s GeNS for ePhyto are both managed by Mr. Rowe. In addition, Mr. Rowe also sits on various national and ministerial committees.
Mr. Rowe also serves as the Technical Secretary for the Caribbean Plant Health Directors (CPHD) Forum, having been elected to the post at the 16th Annual CPHD Forum meeting held in August 2023.
In the area of academia, Mr. Rowe holds an Associate of Science Degree in General Agriculture, a Bachelor of Technology Degree in Environmental Science, and a Masters of Science in Occupational and Environmental Safety and Health with competences in IPM, strategic planning, the development of guidelines, phytosanitary protection systems and treatment strategies, just to name a few.
