ACS Strengthens Regional Coordination to Turn Shared Priorities into Concrete Actions

Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, October 2026 – The Association of Caribbean States (ACS) held the 11th Meeting of the Coordination Mechanism of the Ministerial Council today, under the leadership of Nicaragua, which holds the Chairmanship of the Ministerial Council.

The Coordination Mechanism brings together the Chairs of the Special Committees and the Caribbean Sea Commission, providing an essential forum for coordinating the work of the Association’s various bodies. Its importance lies in promoting a comprehensive approach that ensures coherence across work agendas, identifies complementarities, and strengthens coordination among the ACS’s different areas of action.

In the context of implementing the Greater Caribbean 2035 Strategic Plan, this role takes on particular significance. The Mechanism makes it possible to align strategic priorities with the work plans, initiatives, and projects undertaken by the various bodies, identify opportunities for collaboration, and harness synergies that broaden the scope of regional efforts. The meeting provided an opportunity to advance the development of the Strategic Plan’s five-year Implementation Plan for 2026–2030, a framework for coordinated implementation through which the actions of each body will contribute to shared objectives for the Greater Caribbean.

The Secretary-General of the ACS, H.E. Noemí Espinoza Madrid, emphasised that, following the approval of the Strategic Plan towards 2035, the main challenge is to translate the shared vision into actions that deliver benefits to the countries of the Greater Caribbean.

“What matters is translating this Strategic Plan into tangible results, ensuring that concrete actions and, above all, tangible outcomes reach our entire membership,” she stated.

During the meeting, participants underscored the importance of maintaining a constructive spirit and a willingness to reach agreements through dialogue, cooperation, and concerted action as essential elements for directing joint efforts towards the common interests of the Greater Caribbean.