News

Bridgetown, Barbados — February 20, 2025 — Her Excellency Noemí Espinoza Madrid, Secretary-General of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), held a productive bilateral meeting with His Excellency Alva Baptiste, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation of Saint Lucia, focusing on strategies to deepen Caribbean integration and address pressing regional challenges.

During the meeting, Minister Baptiste underscored the urgent need to address connectivity and transport disruptions that significantly impact international trade within the region. He highlighted that improving regional transport infrastructure is critical to fostering economic growth and strengthening trade networks in the Caribbean.

Secretary-General Espinoza Madrid underscored the immense potential for the region to unite its forces and leverage its collective strength. She stressed the importance of grounding the ACS's upcoming Strategic Plan in robust research and data analysis to ensure its effectiveness and relevance.

Furthermore, the Secretary-General reaffirmed her commitment to revitalizing the ACS, advocating for a renewed focus on unity and cooperation to overcome shared obstacles. She stressed that by combining efforts, the Greater Caribbean can harness its collective strengths to drive sustainable development and resilience in an evolving global landscape.