News Releases

29 July 2021
Release - 32nd Meeting of the Special Committee on Sustainable Tourism
The Association of Caribbean States hosted its 32nd Meeting of the Special Committee on Sustainable Tourism on Wednesday 28th July, 2021, via videoconference with participation for seventeen (17) ACS Member States, one (1) Associate Member, one (1) ACS Founding Observer and two (2) ACS Observer Countries and six (6) Special Invited Guests. This meeting took the form of two (2) sessions with the aim of informing participants of the on-going status and trajectory for tourism recovery post-COVID-19 and also provided an update on the proposed ACS’ strategic priorities that will be accomplished in the next few years by the ACS’ Directorate for Trade and Sustainable Development.
29 July 2021
36th Meeting Of The Special Committee On Trade Development And External Economic Relations
The meeting opened with the Sectoral Meeting for Trade Partners and Stakeholders where international trade specialists provided a situational analysis of the current status of trade in the Greater Caribbean Region and proposed steps that needed to be taken into considerations post-COVID-19 as the region recover and move towards more resilient and sustainable trading systems. Mr. Rodolfo Sabonge, Secretary of the ACS gave an overview and context of the pandemic on regional trade. He highlighted that there is currently insufficient external trade due to fragmented small markets, weak private and public institutions and lack of market knowledge, among others. He posited that these challenges will be addressed through the ACS Strategic Objectives with the aim of driving trade through trade facilitation and improved connectivity, among others, noting that the region needs to improve the competitive index to attract investment.
27 July 2021
Release - 30th Meeting of the Special Committee on Transport
The Association of Caribbean States hosted its 30th Meeting of the Special Committee on Transport on Monday 26th July, 2021, via videoconference. Participation included fourteen (14) ACS Member States, one (1) ACS Founding Observer and five (5) ACS Observer Countries and five (5) Special Invited Guests.
27 July 2021
Secretary General's Remarks for the Special Committee on Transport
Regarding transportation issues, everyone knows that since before the pandemic the region already had problems. The distances and low demand from some countries make it difficult for private transport operators to offer quality services at a good price. With the pandemic, this situation has worsened.
27 July 2021
Remarks by the Secretary General at the Special Committee Meeting on Disaster Risk Reduction
The recurring presence of natural phenomena, the already visible effects of climate change, coupled with the historically constructed vulnerability in different population groups, poor waste management, environmental degradation, little or in some cases no land use planning, among other factors. , make the Caribbean a region with a high risk of disasters.
23 July 2021
ACS - 27 Years Promoting the Sustainable Development of the Greater Caribbean
Twenty-seven years after the Association of Caribbean States was founded, the environment and circumstances around the Greater Caribbean have changed drastically, but one constant, the continued need for cooperation, solidarity and concerted action, remains.
9 July 2021
ACS Condemns Assassination of Haitian President & Discusses Regional Recovery
ACS Secretary General Rodolfo Sabonge and representative of the Chair of the Ministerial Council (Mexico) have offered condolences to the people of Haiti and condemned the fatal attack on president Jovenel Moïse.
2 July 2021
What If… Transportation Within The Caribbean Was No Longer An Issue” Panel Discussion
Director Safiya Horne-Bique of the Directorate for Trade and Sustainable development, participated in the panel discussion ‘What if… Transportation within the Caribbean was no longer an issue” hosted by the OECS Sustainable Development Movement Ambassador Sabrina Ajax of ASIS W.I.
1 July 2021
ACS Becomes Observer of SICA
The Association of Caribbean States is now an Observer of the Central American Integration System (SICA). ACS Secretary General Rodolfo Sabonge says “It is an honor and a privilege to become Observer to one of the most important organisations in our region..."
29 June 2021
ACS & Montserrat Discuss Membership & Focal Areas
Secretary General Rodolfo Sabonge and Premier of Montserrat Easton Taylor-Farrell have met to discuss Montserrat becoming an Associate Member of the Association of Caribbean States. The ACS has been engaging Montserrat, a British overseas territory to enter the Association as an Associate Member.