Association of Caribbean States (ACS) Hosts its 9th Summit of Heads of States and/or Government
On the heels of an event-packed week of high-level engagements, the Association of Caribbean States has successfully concluded its 9th Summit of Heads of State and/or Government, it’s first in person since 2019. Many delegations from Member States, Associate Members and Observers of the organization were in attendance, including the Prime Ministers of Bahamas, Belize and Guyana, Secretaries General of CARICOM, SICA, SIECA and SELA and guests, the Deputy Prime Minister of Slovenia , Foreign Ministers of Korea, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates and Deputy Foreign Minister of Serbia.
Hosted at the Hotel Museum Casa Santo Domingo, in historic Antigua, Guatemala, delegations representing the ACS Member States and Associate Members shared interventions under the theme "Innovating integration through the sustainable development of the Greater Caribbean". Many delegates took the opportunity to reaffirm their commitment to the ACS and its efforts to support members to enhance cooperation to combat climate change and Sargassum. Enhancing connectivity- physical and virtual and pursuing a cohesive regional trade and tourism agenda characterized by sustainability, also emerged as priorities
This Summit, presided by Guatemalan President, His Excellency Alejandro Giammattei, saw the approval of the Declaration of Antigua, which in addition to a commitment to the revitalisation of the ACS, also solidified action related to post COVID-19 recovery, Sustainable Tourism Models and the development of the Blue Agenda among other actions within the ACS focal areas.
The previous day’s 28th Ordinary Meeting of the ACS Ministerial Council marked the official transfer of the Presidency of the Ministerial Council from the Republic of Guatemala to the Republic of Suriname, His Excellency Albert Ramdin expressing his commitment to continuity in the work and accomplishments of the past year, for his country’s tenure, during his remarks at the Meeting and subsequent Summit.
As the ACS concludes a successful week that solidified the bonds of fraternity and regional solidarity, the organisation presses forward with new strength and vigour in its endeavour to effectively tackle the most pressing regional challenges.
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, Curacao, (France on behalf of French Guiana, Saint Barthelemy and Saint Martin ), Guadeloupe, Martinique, Sint Maarten, (The Netherlands on behalf of Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius ), Turks and Caicos.