ACS Secretary General, Ambassador Luis Fernando Andrade Falla (back row, fourth from right) participated in the Ministerial Meeting of Latin America and the Caribbean on Integration and Development (CALC) and the XXVIII Ministerial Meeting of the Rio Group held in Montego Bay, Jamaica from 4-6 November.

Port of Spain (November 9, 2009) – The Association of Caribbean States (ACS) Secretary General, Ambassador Luis Fernando Andrade Falla attended the Ministerial Meeting of Latin America and the Caribbean on Integration and Development (CALC) and the XXVIII Ministerial Meeting of the Rio Group held simultaneously in Montego Bay, Jamaica from 4-6 November. Approximately 33 countries from Latin America and the Caribbean and 10 international organizations participated in the meetings.

The CALC Meeting was chaired by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Hon. Dr. Kenneth Baugh, and focused on issues pertaining to the integration of the Latin America and Caribbean region. Discussions also centered on current global challenges, such as the ongoing economic crisis and energy, food and climate change issues.

The Ministerial Meeting of the Rio Group officially approved Jamaica as the 25th Member of the hemispheric body and analysed the political situation of Honduras. The meeting also discussed preparations for the Summit of Heads of Government, which will take place in Mexico, in February 2010.

Ambassador Andrade also held several bilateral meetings with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba, Hon. Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of El Salvador, Hon. Hugo Martínez, and senior officials of the delegation from Panama. He also had informal discussions with various other Ministers of Foreign Affairs from Latin America and the Caribbean.

The ACS Secretary General used these opportunities to engage in discussions regarding the continued role of the ACS as a platform for collaboration between the regional and sub-regional integration mechanisms. Ambassador Andrade also highlighted possibilities for strengthening cooperation among the various Secretariats of these bodies.