The Convention Establishing the ACS was signed on 24 July 1994 in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, with the aim of promoting consultation, cooperation, and concerted action amongst the now 35 contracting States, Countries and Territories of the Greater Caribbean linked geographically, historically, culturally and socially. The genesis of the Association was the desire of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) further to a report commissioned by its leaders, to enhance cooperation within the region. As posited in the West Indian Commission (WIC) Report, ‘A Time for Action’, adopted in Grande Anse, Grenada in 1989, CARICOM saw the need to “attempt the engagement of an extended Caribbean family of states”.
The ACS provides a forum for dialogue that allows its Members the opportunity to identify areas of common interest and concern that may be best addressed at the regional level, through south/south and international cooperation. In that regard, ACS Membership has identified 5 areas of concern for the attention of the Association:
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Consultation, Cooperation, and Concerted Action: Pillars of ACS Action in the Greater Caribbean
The ACS is committed to ensuring a sustainably prosperous future for the Greater Caribbean region. This vision is anchored in the principles of consultation, cooperation, and concerted action. Together, these principles form the cornerstone of our efforts to enhance the quality of life and promote sustainable development among our Member States and Territories. These principles are consistently reiterated in the Declarations of Heads of State and Government; inform the ACS Strategic Plan, currently being developed, and find expression in successive ACS Plans of Actions and their accompanying Implementation Plans adopted by the ACS Ministerial Council.
Consultation: Harnessing the Power of Collective Wisdom
The process of consultation is the means by which the ACS leverages the diverse perspectives and expertise of its members and promotes, through consensus, joint action. Through open and inclusive dialogue, the smallest and largest ACS Member States and territories collectively identify the most pressing challenges facing the Greater Caribbean and pursue innovative and transformative solutions tailored to the unique realities of the Region. The consensus positions reached by ACS Heads of State and Government are captured in the Summit Declarations issued by the Meetings of the highest level leaders of the ACS as well as in Ministerial Declarations and Agreements approved by Ministers of Foreign Affairs meeting at the ACS Ministerial Council in Ordinary or Extraordinary Sessions. Consultation ensures that all voices are heard and that decisions are made in a democratic and equitable manner. This approach not only strengthens the bonds between our members, but also ensures that our actions are guided by the collective wisdom of the region.
Cooperation: Building Bridges for Collective Progress
Cooperation is a vital part of the ACS. Our collective effort to exchange information, assets, knowledge, and innovations is embodied in this concept. By fostering an environment where countries work together towards common goals, we unlock the potential for significant advancements in economic, social, and environmental well-being. Through regional south-south cooperation, but also, critically, partnership with Observer countries and organisations through north south and triangular cooperation modalities, the ACS ensures that no member is left behind, paving the way for a more integrated and inclusive Caribbean.
Concerted Action: Moving Forward Together
Concerted action is the suite of cooperative efforts and initiatives undertaken by ACS Members, with the support of the ACS Secretariat and regional and international partners, to realise the development priorities established by Greater Caribbean leaders in successive ACS Plans of Action.
In a bid to coherently capture the shared vision and goals of the ACS and as mandated by the 9th ACS Summit of Heads of State and Government, the Association is in the process of formulating its first Strategic Plan.
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ACS and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea (MOF) convene the Korea-Caribbean joint Ocean Research Center
In the framework of the 13th High-Level Forum on the Korea-Caribbean Partnership, ACS Secretary General, Rodolfo Sabonge, and the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea, CHO Seung-Hwan, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on October 10, 2023.
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Association of Caribbean States (ACS) Hosts its 9th Summit of Heads of States and/or Government
On the heels of an event-packed week of high-level engagements, the Association of Caribbean States has successfully concluded its 9th Summit of Heads of State and/or Government, it’s first in person since 2019.
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ACS establishes a partnership with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
The Gulf Cooperation Council and Association of Caribbean States met at the Ministerial level on 18 September, 2023 in New York to establish a partnership between the two regional entities. The GCC delegation was led by HE Sayyid Bader bin Hamad Al Busaidi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman and Chair of the GCC Ministerial Council with the participation of Their Highnesses and Excellencies GCC Foreign Ministers and HE Mr. Jassem Mohammed Albudaiwi, GCC Secretary-General.
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ACS & CAF Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Join Forces for Sustainable Development
The Association of Caribbean States (ACS) & the Corporación Andina de Fomento (CAF) - Development Bank of Latin America have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which aims to formalize a non-exclusive cooperation framework between the Parties in order to coordinate actions and joint efforts for the sustainable development of Latin America and the Caribbean.
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ACS and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at promoting and strengthening cooperation activities to implement the mandates of the respective organisations.
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ACS, World Bank and United Nations agencies announce the Greater Caribbean Climate Mobility Initiative (GCCMI) on October 6.
Greater Caribbean Climate Mobility Initiative to build political momentum for people-centred efforts to address climate-forced migration and displacement.
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ACS signs cooperation agreement with the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) on February 25.
The Association of Caribbean States (ACS) and EUCLID University have signed an agreement which will see the two organisations collaborating on digital economy and data management in the public service of ACS Member countries.
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ACS Becomes Observer of SICA
On June 24, In a videoconference called by the Chair of SICA, Costa Rica, the foreign ministers of Belize, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, El Salvador, vice ministers of Guatemala, Honduras and Panama adopted the inclusion of the ACS as an Observer to SICA.
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ACS signs cooperation agreement with the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) on October 9.
The Association of Caribbean States (ACS) and the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) signed a memorandum of understanding in order to promote cooperation and the exchange of experiences that strengthen the development of focused projects relevant issues such as regional integration, climate change, environment, infrastructure, among others.
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8th Summit of Heads of State and/or Government in Managua, Nicaragua on March 29
The group of 35 countries making up the Association of Caribbean States have made a wide-ranging declaration, pledging to tackle the effects of climate change, reinforce the region as a zone of peace, ensure safe migration, focus on sustainable development and support the call made by CARICOM for reparations for the Trans-Atlantic slave trade and slavery.
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ACS & Panama Sign MOU to Cooperate on Humanitarian Assistance Logistics
The Association of Caribbean States and the Republic of Panama have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work together on projects and activities for the Regional Logistics Centre for Humanitarian Assistance (CLRAH).
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ACS and the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC) sign a Memorandum of Understanding
The Association of Caribbean States (ACS) and the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), committing to work toward improving regional resilience of electrical systems in light of the heightened risk of catastrophic weather events, as a result of climate change, as well as other potential hazards such as earthquakes.
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Sandy Shorelines Project Launch
The Caribbean Sea Commission (CSC) of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) launched the Sandy Shorelines coastal erosion project at the Secretariat in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.
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7th ACS Summit of Heads of State and/or Government in Havana, Cuba on June 4.
The 7th Summit of Heads of State and/or Government of the Association of Caribbean States took place in Cuba on Saturday June 4 2016 in La Havana, Cuba.
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ACS and the University of the West Indies (UWI) sign MOU on Geospatial Information Management.
The Association of Caribbean States (ACS), the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus (UWI), Mexico’s National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) and the Embassy of the United Mexican States in Trinidad and Tobago convened to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), as they resolve to join efforts towards the achievement of the objectives of the “United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management” initiative (UN-GGIM) and of the “Caribbean Platform of Territorial Information for Disaster Prevention” PITCA project. These projects are funded by the Government of Mexico.
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6th ACS Summit of Heads of State and/or Government in Mérida, Mexico on April 30.
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5th ACS Summit of Heads of State and/or Government in Pétion Ville, Haiti on April 26.
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MoU signing for the project: Strengthening Hydrometeorological Operations and Services in the SIDS (Small Island Developing States) of the Caribbean (SHOCS).
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Beginning of project: Maps of Maritime Routes of the Greater Caribbean
Today, it is estimated that 90% of the goods circulating worldwide are transported by sea, placing maritime trade at the heart of the issues related to economic growth.
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4th Summit of Heads of State and/or Government of the Association of Caribbean States
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3rd Summit of Heads of State and/or Government of the States and Territories of the Association of Caribbean States.
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Convention establishing the sustainable tourism zone of the Caribbean.
Status of signatures, ratifications, acceptances, approvals, accessions and entry into forceArticle 9. Shall enter into force on the thirtieth day counted from the date on which the fifteenthinstrument of ratification is deposited.
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2nd Summit of Heads of State and/or Government of the States and Territories of the Association of Caribbean States.
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Agreement to create the Special Committee on Natural Disasters.
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Beginning of the programme entitled Uniting the Caribbean by Air and Sea on December 13.
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The Summit of the ACS is the most important meeting of the organization – held periodically at the very highest level, facilitating the convergence of Heads of State and/or Government or their High Level Representatives from the entire Membership of the organization, being Member States, Associate Members, Founding Observer Organizations, Observer Countries, Social Actors, Observer Organizations, as well as Specially Invited Guests from other International and Regional organizations.
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The Contracting States:
Committed to initiating a new era characterised by the strengthening of cooperation and of the cultural, economic, political, scientific, social and technological relations among themselves;