Speeches

Distinguished representatives of the Member States of the Association of Caribbean States,  

My first words as Secretary-General of the Association of Caribbean States are of gratitude to each of the Member States for placing their trust in me to lead this invaluable space for integration, cooperation, and concerted action in favor of sustainable development in this great Caribbean region.  

Allow me also to reiterate my deepest thanks to Her Excellency President Xiomara Castro for her unconditional support, as well as to Foreign Minister Enrique Reina and Vice Foreign Minister Gerardo Torres, who is present today. Thank you for trusting in my capacity to lead the ACS.  

This trust honors me and strengthens my commitment to work tirelessly so that dialogue and cooperation reduce inequalities, put people and their dignity at the center of development, promote climate justice, strengthen our partnership, and serve as a boost for the essential priorities of this wonderful region.
I also want to express my appreciation to the outgoing Secretary-General, Rodolfo Sabonge, for his leadership and dedication to the ACS, as well as to the entire team for their support and commitment during this transition.  

I warmly welcome the presence of Vice Minister Kandya Obezo, Ambassador Margarita Manjarrez, and Ambassador William Bush. Your presence, Your Excellencies, symbolizes Colombia’s leadership in this space of shared wealth.
The Greater Caribbean, as a source of life for the entire world, faces shared challenges of great magnitude, including climate change, reducing inequalities, strengthening resilience in productive sectors, and advancing sustainable development.  

These challenges demand a firm commitment, always guided by a profound respect for our planet and for people.
In this context, it is vital for this great region to become a symbol of hope and sustainability.  

To achieve this, we must turn our good intentions into concrete actions, based on innovation and cooperation among the peoples of this Greater Caribbean and the world.  

Under my leadership, the Association of Caribbean States will seek to reivindicate its historical role and turn it into a leading one.  

We want the world to recognize the strength of this region, not only for its natural beauty but also for its capacity to lead and mobilize global and collaborative solutions from its diversity.  

The Greater Caribbean has the unique potential to lead with innovation and purpose in the global fight for environmental protection, development, and building sustainable peace, becoming a beacon of bold and transformative solutions for the world.  

Preserving the environmental integrity of the Caribbean Sea, recognized as a common heritage of the peoples of the region, is and will remain our collective priority.  

This sea, a source of life, culture, and identity, reminds us that regional cooperation is essential to ensure its sustainability.  

Caring for it not only protects our shared legacy but also secures a prosperous future for future generations.  

We will continue to strengthen the ACS as a key institution to mobilize strategic alliances, support joint policies, and coordinate actions to enhance environmental protection and promote economic, social, and cultural development.
Following the mandates of the Member States, we will work toward a sustainable, inclusive, and solidarity-based region.  

Harnessing the technologies within our reach is no longer just a necessity but an opportunity to enhance the role of the ACS as a relevant actor regionally and globally.  

Digital transformation and technological innovation can become key tools to improve our coordination capacity, strengthen communication with Member States and allies, and generate effective and sustainable solutions to the challenges we face.  

Under this approach, the blue economy will be proposed as a strategic axis that promotes development based on the preservation of marine ecosystems and environmental sustainability.  

The ACS will reinvent itself to lead efficiently and project its impact meaningfully. Today, with humility and determination, I accept the honor and responsibility of continuing this legacy.  

I am confident that, together, we will turn our challenges into opportunities and ensure that the Greater Caribbean occupies the position it deserves: a global leader in sustainability, peace, and development.  

I trust in your willingness to walk this path together, because only through the union of our nations, talents, and shared will can we elevate the Greater Caribbean.  

Let us work so that our diversity is the bridge that consolidates the freedom, peace, and development that deserve to be projected and shared with the world.  

Thank you very much!