Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago | 25 March 2026 — The Association of Caribbean States (ACS) convened the 3rd Meeting of the Ad Hoc Steering Committee on Humanitarian Assistance and Development for the Republic of Haiti, held in a hybrid format, to advance the region’s operational follow-up to the outcomes of the Regional Conference on Humanitarian Assistance and Development for Haiti, held in Panama City in January 2026.

Today’s meeting reinforced the shift from commitments to sequenced, trackable implementation, strengthening coordination among ACS Member States and partners, while keeping Haitian leadership and priorities at the center of regional action.

In her remarks, H.E. Noemí Espinoza Madrid, Secretary-General of the ACS, emphasized the political and human imperative of sustained regional engagement: “We cannot be indifferent to what is happening in Haiti; when one of ours is in crisis, we must respond collectively,” she stated. She also underscored the need for consistency, coordination, and a sustained presence.

Representing Haiti, Mr. Jan Speka, Director of Economic Relations and Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship of the Republic of Haiti, and Co-Chair of the Steering Committee, expressed appreciation for the sustained attention and solidarity of the region, and reiterated key national priorities. He noted that “one of the priorities of the Government of Haiti is the management of humanitarian assistance... and there is a great need to ensure that displaced persons are taken into account.”

During the meeting, the ACS Secretariat presented:

• The Executive Summary of the Regional Conference and the Summary of Contributions from the Working Groups.
• The Timeline for the Follow-up Roadmap for the Draft Regional Action Plan for Humanitarian Assistance and Development for the Republic of Haiti, including key activities, actions, and milestones.

In his capacity as Co-Chair of the Steering Committee, H.E. Víctor Hugo Morales Meléndez, Ambassador of Mexico to Trinidad and Tobago and Permanent Representative of Mexico to the ACS, highlighted that “the roadmap presented provides a strategic framework to organize political and technical follow-up, facilitate regional coordination, and advance better-coordinated cooperation.”
Members of the Ad Hoc Steering Committee provided feedback and guidance to strengthen sequencing, coordination, and deliverables.

Building on the operational approach announced in Panama, the Committee continues to support the mapping of ongoing cooperation projects and actions led by United Nations agencies and regional partners, aimed at identifying capacities, reducing fragmentation, and improving the effectiveness of support—particularly for communities most affected by Haiti’s multidimensional crisis.

Next steps

H.E. Noemí Espinoza Madrid noted that, in light of recent developments in Haiti and the importance of reinforcing Haitian ownership, the ACS Secretariat is planning a visit to Haiti, in coordination with Haitian authorities.

The ACS Secretariat will continue supporting the Committee’s technical follow-up, including refinement of the roadmap timeline and alignment of cooperation initiatives, with the objective of advancing the Draft Regional Action Plan through clear deliverables and measurable milestones.

For the ACS, Haiti’s crisis is not isolated: it has direct implications for the Greater Caribbean, including human security, mobility, development, and economic stability—making sustained regional coordination essential.