Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Amery Browne says that he is anticipating a constructive partnership with newly-installed ACS Secretary General Rodolfo Sabonge. The foreign minister and the Secretary General met officially during a courtesy call at the Ministry in Port-of-Spain on Wednesday.

“Your presence here is not just welcomed, but will be very productive. You were in charge of a key legacy project (Panama Canal) of the Panamanian people… and I am looking forward to a very productive and fruitful term with your leadership.”

SG Sabonge touched on some of the challenges for the region, and to the work of the Association triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic and said that tourism, trade and transport could be better facilitated with modernisation across the Greater Caribbean.

“COVID has accelerated the need for digital transformation and we will be focused on that at the Association. That is the framework with which we can accelerate other things, that is one of the areas that we will be looking to move forward with donors and projects.”

Minister Browne agreed that digital transformation is vital not only for the region, but for his country. “Your emphasis on digital transformation certainly fits very well within our national priorities in Trinidad and Tobago. We have a brand new ministry facilitated by the Prime Minister called the Ministry of Public Administration and Digital Transformation, it is the first time that an effort at this level has been facilitated in Trinidad and Tobago. The digital transformation of this country is positioned as a major priority.”

Trinidad and Tobago has been the host country of the ACS Secretariat since it was established in 1995 and is the Vice-Chair of the Special Committee on Budget and Administration.