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Without the legal framework to support the Association’s activities, the organisation remains limited in the scope and impact of its activities in the region. Bearing in mind that legal instruments lend credibility to an institution’s purpose and demonstrate the political commitment of the membership’s leaders’ to the ACS mission, Secretary General Silié urged the delegations present to work towards the ratification of the ACS legal instruments in order to continue consolidating the space of the Greater Caribbean. To date, the Agreement for Regional Co-operation in Natural Disasters has been ratified by 10 countries, but 7 more are needed for it to enter into force. The Agreement for the Establishment of the Sustainable Tourism Zone of the Caribbean (STZC) was ratified by 6 countries, while 9 ratifications are needed to for its entry into force. The multilateral Air Transport Agreement has already been ratified by 4 Member States, but requires 5 more ratifications to enter into force. One country has ratified the Protocol to the Convention for the establishment of the STZC, however, this will Protocol enter into force with the signatures of 15 of the States which ratified the Convention. Finally, the Protocol on Privileges and Immunities, was ratified by 8, but needs 7 more ratifications to enter into force. Some Member countries, among them Suriname, Haiti and Trinidad and Tobago, gave their assurance that the instruments in question were being duly processed. Trinidad and Tobago in particular confirmed ratification of the Protocol on Privileges and Immunities, while Haiti promised to have all of the instruments ratified before the celebration of the 12th Ordinary Meeting of the Ministerial Council in Guatemala in January 2007. ACS Ministerial Agreement 7/06 called for the establishment of a Follow-Up Group to keep under constant review the status of the Legal Instruments of the Association of Caribbean States. This Follow-Up Group has since met on two occasions – on August 7 and again on August 30, 2006. About the ACS The Association of Caribbean States is the organization for consultation, cooperation and concerted action in trade, transport, sustainable tourism and natural disasters in the Greater Caribbean. Its Member States are Antigua & Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Panama, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago and Venezuela. Its Associate Members are Aruba , France on behalf of French Guiana , Guadeloupe , and Martinique , and the Netherlands Antilles . For further information, please contact: Denise Lewis Martínez |
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Association of Caribbean States ©
2007 |