SM/2023/9/INF.001
Original language: Spanish
Last updated: 12th May, 2023

THE ASSOCIATION OF CARIBBEAN STATES (ACS)
9TH SUMMIT OF HEADS OF STATE AND/OR GOVERNMENT
12th May, 2023

DECLARATION OF ANTIGUA GUATEMALA“Innovating integration through the sustainable development of theGreater Caribbean”

We, the Heads of State and/or Government of the Member States of the
Association of Caribbean States (ACS), gathered at the 9th Summit of the
ACS, in the city of Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala, on May 12th, 2023:
i.

Aware of the exceptional time in which we find ourselves characterized byii.

Convinced that the establishment of multi-actor partnerships such as themultidimensional challenges, among which climate change and Post-COVID19 socio-economic recovery stand out;
one promoted through South-South and Triangular cooperation, play afundamental role in the development of ACS Member States, fostering andpromoting actions, projects and cooperation programs of high added valuethat contribute to sustainable development and the well-being of ourpopulations while strengthening ties of collaboration and articulation between
development partners, whose characteristics, challenges and areas ofopportunity are similar;

iii.

Aware that the revitalization process of the ACS laid the foundations to boostiv.

Resolved to promote and effectively implement the ACS Plan of Action 2022-

cooperation among Members and development partners of the Greater
Caribbean region to forge the "New Normality" based on cohesion and sociocultural, economic, technological/digital and environmental among others;
2028 as a flagship product of the revitalisation process to achieve greater
resilience to threats and greater preparedness to take advantage ofopportunities, through the active engagement of our countries and theachievement of results;v.

Resolved to reaffirm the validity and relevance of the Nature, Goals andFunctions established in the Articles of Agreement of the ACS and its
importance as a consultative, cooperative coordinating and consensusbuilding body to advance the unity and integration of the Greater Caribbean,1SM/2023/9/INF.001
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whose aim is to identify and promote the implementation of policies andprogrammes aimed at:(a) Strengthening, utilising and developing the collective capacities of theGreater Caribbean to achieve sustainable development through SouthSouth and Triangular cooperation, supported by multi-stakeholder andmulti-level alliances (SDG, 17), in areas of mutual interest such as
education, culture, economic reactivation, trade, sustainable tourism,
social affairs, migration, science, technology, innovation, theenvironment and climate change;(b) Promoting the sustainable development of the Caribbean Sea and its
resources within the framework of Sustainable Development Goal
(SDG) No. 14 of the 2030 Agenda through strategic alliances;(c) Strengthening the process of regional cooperation and integration of
the Greater Caribbean, in order to establish an expanded economic
space that will contribute to increased competitiveness in international
markets and facilitate the active and coordinated participation of theregion in multilateral fora; and(d) Facilitating the active and coordinated participation of the region in
multilateral fora.
WE DECLARE:
Article I Revitalisation and Strengthening of the ACS

1.
Recognise the revitalisation of the ACS, initiated with the mandate
emanating from the Havana Declaration in 2016, as an ongoing process driven
by the urgent need to strengthen the Association and its processes, realign itspriorities, build support systems and update capacities in accordance with new
realities; with a view to enhancing consultation, consensus-building, regional andinternational cooperation, developing the vision, mission and shared values of the
ACS, in accordance with the Articles of Agreement, reinforcing the institutional
structures, image and visibility of the Association; express our commitment to theeffective implementation of the Plan of Action 2022-2028.
Article II The post COVID-19 pandemic recovery

2.
Express our deep concern with regard to the various variants of the
COVID-19 virus that continue to cause infections and in some cases even deathin all sectors of our societies, particularly amongst those most disadvantaged
populations, we must therefore continue our efforts with regard to public healthand universal, equitable, supportive, affordable and free access to vaccines; aswell as supplies, medical equipment and other treatments against COVID-19;2

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3.
Recognise the efforts made by Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Chile andMexico to produce and package vaccines against COVID- 19 and seek World
Health Organization (WHO) approval. In this regard, we acknowledge all thecountries and organisations that have supported ACS Members and other States
and territories of the world to face the pandemic with medical services anddonations and specially recognise the Government and People of Cuba foroffering medical services and support. In this regard, highlight the importance ofcontinuing the promotion of strengthened national and regional capacities for thedevelopment of vaccines, health technology and medicines that allow us tocombat health emergencies and coordinate efforts in multilateral spheres toensure that all our peoples have fair and equitable access to medication andhealth supplies;
4.
Will continue to promote post-pandemic socioeconomic recovery thatprioritizes an equitable, sustainable and resilient reactivation of all economic
sectors to guarantee access to financing under favourable conditions, including
concessional resources, by International Financial Institutions (IFIs), so thatcountries with solvency difficulties can face the economic, social and health crisis
derived from the COVID-19 pandemic;
5.
Recognise the initiative of the Secretary General of the United
Nations for holding the Summit on Food Systems held on 23rd of September,
2021 which emphasised the urgent and fundamental need to strengthen agrifood systems in the region, with the aim of ensuring strengthened food andnutrition security for the peoples of the Greater Caribbean region, during this
Decade of Action to achieve the SDGs by 2030 and commend the results.
Support the Plan for Food Security, Nutrition and the Eradication of Hunger of
Latin American and Caribbean States 2025, which seeks to strengthen all
dimensions of food security in our region for the benefit of our people. Taking
into account the important lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, we
encourage Member States to explore modalities of cooperation and collaboration
for the achievement of these goals, such as the Pact for a Great Alliance for
Nutrition and Zero Hunger in Latin America and the Caribbean, -put forward by
Colombia with the support of the World Food Programme - and some ten States(Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Paraguay
and Peru) and with the perspective that more countries of the Caribbean Region
can join this initiative.
Article III Recovery, Reconstruction, Increased
Sustainability of Industry and Tourism in the Region

Resilienceand6.
Recognise sustainable tourism as an essential activity for economicand environmental development in the Greater Caribbean. In this regard, weshall promote a multi-destination approach, highlighting the sustainability andessence of tourism segments, in recognition of the contributions of the tourism
industry to improve the economic, social and environmental conditions of the3

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Greater Caribbean, and thereby generate more competitive destinations that
better meet the standards demanded by the global tourism market;

7.
Will redouble our efforts to promote the sustainable development offisheries, agriculture and forestry resources in the Greater Caribbean andenhance the linkages between tourism and other productive sectors, as thiscontributes to the strengthening of economies through activities such as ecotourism, community- based rural tourism, agro-tourism, recreational fishing,recreational diving, hiking and adventure tourism, to build resilience and mitigate
the effects of climate change and other disruptions to sustainable development;
8.
Recognise the importance of promoting a Sustainable and Inclusive
Tourism Agenda for the Greater Caribbean, on the basis of the strategic action of
Sustainable Tourism contained in the ACS Plan of Action 2022- 2028;
9.
Also recognise the importance of ongoing initiatives aimed atstrengthening the Sustainable Tourism Zone of the Greater Caribbean (STZC),
the exchange of best practices, the development of the supply and demand of
tourism products and services and boosting the economies of countries,
promoting sustainable, responsible, accessible and quality multi-destination
tourism products with high added value; benefitting also from the comparativeand complementary advantages of the region, which include the proximity
between States and territories; the cultural richness and diversity, including theancestral knowledge of indigenous and Afro-Caribbean communities; thehospitality of the peoples of the Greater Caribbean; the biodiversity; scenic
beauty; human talent; gastronomy and abundant natural resources of theRegion.
10. Emphasise the urgency of declaring the sargassum crisis as an
emergency associated with the climate crises and the impact of human activities
that affects the entire Greater Caribbean region representing a threat foreconomic, social and cultural development in particular tourism activities, fishing,and our people´s culture and health but also the sustainability of marine
biodiversity and the stability of marine and coastal ecosystems.

Article IV The Ocean, the Caribbean Sea and the development of the Blue
Agenda11.
Recognise that the loss of biodiversity and fragility of the region,
together with the global climate crisis we are facing, and the increase inpollution, demand the strengthening of global and regional multilateralism
to formulate and implement regional initiatives that allow for the analysis of
the concept of the Caribbean Sea as a special area in the context ofsustainable development, and begin work on the development of a Blue
Agenda to promote actions for the conservation and sustainable use of4

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ocean resources, which entails the increase in the mobilisation of resources,
capacity building and related technology transfer;

12.
Welcome the successful conclusion at the beginning of March 2023, in
New York, of the negotiations of the internationally legally binding
instrument on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological
Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdictions and look forward to its
prompt adoption and enter into force;
13.
Recognise plastic pollution as one of the main global environmental
issues and welcome the progress of the negotiations to agree on aninternational legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including themarine environment. Reiterate the key importance for this agreement toinclude adequate means of implementation in order to ensure the capacity
building and technical assistance needed, as well as the mobilization ofnew, additional and predictable financial resources which developing
countries, including ACS Members require in this context;
14.
Are committed to promoting proposals towards the designation of
the Caribbean Sea as a Special Area in the context of sustainable
development, through the development of a Blue Agenda aimed at 1)
strengthening compliance with the international framework that regulates theocean; 2) reducing pressure on oceans and seas by creating enabling
conditions for the compliance with SDG 14 and the development of asustainable blue economy 3) cope with emerging threats such as sargassumcrisis and 4) strengthening applied research and international data on oceans
to improve decision making; taking into account relevant international
instruments pertaining to ocean governance such as, in particular, theUnited Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and its States Party and its
derivative instruments ;15.
Congratulate Costa Rica and France on their designation as co-hostsof the Third United Nations Ocean Conference, to be held in Nice, France, inJune 2025, and the celebration of the High-Level Event on Ocean Action, tobe held in Costa Rica in June 2024, which, amongst other objectives, willcontribute to supporting the advancement of Sustainable Development Goal
14: Life Below Water;
16.
Are also committed to supporting the United Nations Decade of
Ocean Sciences for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) and its vision ofachieving “the science we need for the ocean we want”, in particular throughthe development and application of marine environmental management toolsthat promote the conservation and sustainable use of the Caribbean Sea andits resources, as well as the protection, preservation and restoration of its
ecosystems.

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Article V Climate Change and the Environment

17.
Reiterate that climate change continues to be the greatest threat in
the countries of the Greater Caribbean, leading to various effects such as
persistent drought and extreme weather events, soil degradation,
deforestation, loss of biodiversity, rise in average sea levels, coastal erosion,
the sargassum crisis and ocean acidification, which urgently require a global
response commensurate with the magnitude of these challenges;
18.
Welcome the progress and results made by the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change, Conference of the Parties-COP27,
including the decisions agreed upon in Sharm El Sheik, Egypt, on November
20, 2022, in particular the decision by consensus for the creation of the Fundon "Loss and Damage", which represents a historic milestone for the mostvulnerable countries and regions of the Planet, and reiterate a call to theinternational community, in particular developed countries, to contribute to
the Fund with merit based financing for its operation. Likewise, we join thecall to developed countries to comply with the pending $100 Billion Goal
established in the Paris Agreement, and we underline the imminent need totake measures so that the temperature of the Planet does not exceed 1.5
degrees Celsius;
19.
Agree to continue the search for urgent concerted action in the faceof global climate change in order to place the Greater Caribbean at theforefront of international efforts to limit global warming to 1.5° C inaccordance with the Rio Conventions and the Paris Agreement of the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the ACS Managua
Declaration;
20.
Welcome the political will and commitment demonstrated by somedeveloped States that have doubled their contribution to the Green Climate
Fund; and again urge developed States to continue taking the lead withregard to more ambitious mitigation and adaptation commitments; theprovision of resources and transfer of technology, infrastructure and training
to developing States, to counteract the effects of climate change and manage
the loss and damage caused by them;21.
Also welcome the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global
Biodiversity Framework at the Fifteenth Conference of the Parties (COP15) to
the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), aimed to halt
and reverse biodiversity loss, as well as to promote the conservation andrestauration of resources and ecosystem functions for the benefit of thepeople and the planet;6SM/2023/9/INF.001
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22.
Recognise the formulation and implementation of public
environmental policies and resource management through the implementationof sustainable and inclusive projects intended for the adaptation, mitigationand loss and damage caused by climate change and enhanced resilience ofStates, including through the development of regional projects, including
energy transition issues and increased participation in renewable energies,
which allow access to global financing mechanism as well as through SouthSouth and Triangular cooperation;
23.
Reiterate the need to promote dialogue and generate coordinationand cooperation mechanisms among States to comprehensively address
migration caused by the effects of natural disasters and the impacts ofclimate change, environmental degradation and loss of biodiversity, throughcontinuous collaboration and the exchange of good practices via South-Southand Triangular cooperation, including efforts to reduce the vulnerability of
populations and the resilience of affected communities;
24.
Emphasise the imperative of developing a more just, inclusive andsupportive international financial system, and in that context welcome the“Bridgetown Initiative”, proposed by the Government of Barbados as a planwith the potential to significantly redesign the global financial system in orderto improve the response to climate crises and to particular development
challenges, thus allowing developing countries, in particular, to have the fiscal
space in order to work towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs).

Article VI Promotion of an Economic Space of the Greater Caribbean, for
the Development of Commercial Economic Relations and Investment

25.
Promote the creation and consolidation of tools and effective
mechanisms that stimulate the facilitation and expansion of trade, as well as
promote literacy, digital transformation and connectivity, particularly in thosecountries of the Greater Caribbean that have difficulties accessing theseresources;
26.
Recognise the need to promote sustainable economic development
by equipping the Greater Caribbean with effective tools, including newtechnologies that facilitate greater participation of our enterprises in global
business trends and their more effective integration into regional andinternational value chains;
27.
Undertake the development of a Digital Agenda for the Greater
Caribbean, in order to promote the ownership and use of Information andCommunication Technologies (ICTs) and expand e-commerce, including
MSMEs in the Region; to promote the digital transformation of the Greater
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Caribbean, to reduce the digital divide with an inclusive approach and to
bolster the economic recovery and resilience of the Region;

28.
Recognise the importance of local capacity building to promote andfacilitate trade, attract investment including Foreign Direct Investment (FDI),
and the need for exchanges between national Investment Promotion Agencies(IPAs), in an effort to share experiences and best practices that cancontribute to the improvement of the business climate that generate quality
jobs and contribute to sustainable development from an environmental,
economic and social perspective;
29.
Highlight the importance of improving connectivity and mobility
among the countries and peoples of the Greater Caribbean, and in thisregard, request the continued promotion of land, air and maritime transport
links throughout the region, in order to maintain and vitalise an environment
conducive to investment, trade, tourism and the mobility of goods and people
in the Greater Caribbean;
30.
Also Highlight the importance of entrepreneurs, micro, small,medium and large businesses in the region, and request that support
programmes continue to be implemented so that businesses can globalise andreach more markets with their services and products; moving forward withthe transformation of the various dimensions that contribute to fostering theempowerment of women and social inclusion, supporting ethnic and othervulnerable groups;
31.
Reaffirm our support for and commitment to strengthening an open,transparent, inclusive, non-discriminatory, fair, and multilateral trading system
based on rules and agreements within the framework of the World Trade
Organisation (WTO), with the aim of reducing current imbalances andcontributing to sustainable and more inclusive development; including special
and differential treatment for developing states as well as particular attention
to the challenges that affect Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least
Developed Countries (LDCs) ;32.
Reaffirm the commitment of the region to promote greater exchange
within the region through mechanisms of joint promotion of business sectors
interested in the search for more and better opportunities to generate new
businesses, and to strengthen the supply chain through the identification ofintermediate and final goods that can be complementary in the economies ofscale of the region, including through the convening of the Business Forum of
the Greater Caribbean.

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Article VII Commitment to the purposes and the principles of the UN
Charter and the Greater Caribbean as a Zone of Peace and Cooperation

33.
Reiterate our commitment to and respect for the purposes andprinciples of the Charter of the United Nations and the principles ofInternational Law with the maintenance of international peace and security;
the promotion of friendly relations and solidarity among nations; thepromotion of international cooperation; the sovereign equality of States; thefulfilment, in good faith, of obligations undertaken; the peaceful settlementof disputes; the prohibition of the use or threat of use of force, and theterritorial integrity and political independence of any State, and noninterference in internal affairs, indispensable requirements to preserve theGreater Caribbean as a Zone of Peace and cooperation, in accordance with
the Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace byvirtue of which each State has the power to consolidate and strengthen its
own unique political, economic, social and cultural system;
34.
Reject the application of unilateral coercive measures, contrary toInternational Law, including the lists and certifications that negatively affectthe livelihoods of the population, the national efforts in pursuit of theeconomic and social development of the Member States of the ACS, theimplementation of the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development, the peace
and prosperity of the Greater Caribbean and post-pandemic recovery; in thisregard we request the exclusion of Cuba from the unilateral list of countries
that allegedly sponsor international terrorism;
35.
Reiterate the call to the government of the United States to put an
end to the economic, commercial and financial blockade that it imposes on
Cuba, which has been intensified in the context of the pandemic, including its
extraterritorial application, and, contrary to International Law, causes great
harm to the wellbeing of the Cuban people;
36.
Recognise the importance for the Caribbean States to continue toparticipate actively to advance common positions that contribute tonegotiations in regional and multilateral fora addressing issues ofdisarmament, non-proliferation, and arms control and their ammunition, inlight of the challenges posed by armed violence, organised crime, terrorism
and illegal drug trafficking;37.
Consistent with our legitimate actions and aspirations to movetowards a more peaceful, secure, and prosperous world recognising the risks
and challenges that lethal autonomous weapons represent, emphasize thedecision of ACS Member States to endorse the "Communiqué of the Latin
American and Caribbean Conference on the Social and Humanitarian Impactof lethal Autonomous Weapons", agreed on 24 February 2023, in La Ribera
de Belen, Costa Rica.
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Article VIII Vulnerability of Greater Caribbean States

38.
Recognise the multifaceted and layered threats and challenges
facing the Greater Caribbean to achieve sustainable development and theimperative to build coordination and cooperation capacities within the ACS, toaddress the Region’s vulnerabilities that are exacerbated by current global
challenges, mainly threats affecting public health, food and nutritional
security; adverse effects of climate change; trade barriers; financial, economic
and security crises. In this regard, we support the development of amultidimensional vulnerability index.
Article IX Information and Communication Technologies to Foster Peaceand Development

39.
Emphasise the importance of Information And Communication
Technologies (ICTs), including the internet as a tool to promote peace,
human well-being, development, knowledge, social inclusion and economic
growth; promoting the creation of a global culture of cyber security andprotection of critical information infrastructure, as well as raising awarenessabout threats to the cyber security of States by cybercriminals; we underscore
the need to ensure that the use of ICTs does not infringe upon the right toprivacy of individuals.
Article X Partnerships

40.
Call for a dialogue and the most comprehensive and inclusive
partnership possible between ACS stakeholders at the local, national, regionaland multilateral levels to develop creative, constructive and results-based
mechanisms to build resilience, to effectively address obstacles todevelopment with a view to achieving social, economic, environmental,
sustainable and inclusive development;
41.
Renew the commitment to strengthen working relationships withother regional and international organisations, including the ACS Founding
and Observer Organisations; the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States(OECS,) the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) andthe United Nations and its specialised agencies, in the pursuit of the resilienceand sustainable development of the Greater Caribbean;
42.
Commit to developing and promoting mechanisms for foreign
policy consultation, that advance the objectives and goals of the ACS inregional and international fora, in which the countries of the Greater
Caribbean share membership.

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Article XI Funding and Cooperation for Development

43.
Reiterate the call to the international community on the need foranalysis of the graduation of Middle Income Countries, taking into account themultisectoral vulnerabilities and structural challenges of our countries, as wellas multidimensional measures that go beyond per capita income, in order toconsolidate a fairer and more effective distribution of the resources ofinternational cooperation for development, noting that South-South andTriangular cooperation are not a substitute for North-South cooperation, but acomplement to same; being agile and flexible instruments for the mobilisationof experiences, knowledge and good practices, limited by our countries, toprovide practical solutions to daily problems of sustainable development, froma multilevel perspective, that benefit national and local government
institutions as well as the diversity of ethnic communities and vulnerable
populations;
44.
Underscore the importance of fulfilling the commitments regarding
Official Development Assistance (ODA) and other types of financing forsustainable development, emphasizing the objective established by the United
Nations that developed countries allocate 0.7% of its Gross National Productto this effort;
45.
Support the creation of the ACS Catalogue of International
Cooperation Offers, which compiles the best practices of the Member Statesin economic, development and environmental matters, which will help tomake South-South and Triangular Cooperation more effective, based on thespirit of solidarity, transparency, horizontality and mutual benefit, positioning
us as a more solid, resilient and consistent block;46.
Recognise that South-South Cooperation, based on solidarity andsovereign equality of states, guided by the principles of respect for nationalsovereignty, independence, equality, non-conditionality, non-interference ininternal affairs and mutual benefit complements and does not replace othersystems of Cooperation;
47.
Acknowledge the actions of ACS Associate Members, ObserverStates and other partners through the channelling of different modalities ofinternational cooperation to the region and urge that this be further
strengthened by taking a leading role in the mobilisation of resources;
48.
Also acknowledge with appreciation, the role of North/South,
South/South, triangular and decentralised cooperation offered by ACS
Member States and Associate Members, Observer States and other partners insupport of the ACS Plan of Action, 2019-2021, while expecting at the sametime even more dynamic collaboration, cooperation and resource mobilisationin support of the Plan of Action 2022-2028;11

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49.
Recognise the contribution of ACS Associate Members to theachievement of the cooperation objectives of the Greater Caribbean Region,
and welcome a strengthening of their role and involvement in the concrete
implementation of projects developed within the framework of the ACS Planof Action;
50.
Welcome the hosting of the Summit of Heads of State of the G77
Group on development challenges and the role of science, technology andinnovation in Havana Cuba on 15th, 16th September 2023 in which will have as
its principal objective the promotion of cooperation projects to the benefit ofdeveloping countries, including ACS Members;
51.
Urge international agencies to strengthen development funding
cooperation, by exploring and diversifying towards new and innovative
sources of funding that complement traditional sources of international
cooperation, in order to scale up funding mechanisms, in accordance withresolution 69/313, of July 27th, 2015 on the Addis Ababa Action Agenda of theThird International Conference on Funding for Development, which is an
integral part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development;
52.
Considering that cooperation for sustainable development is a global
concept that encompasses different models of assistance in support ofpopulations. The States recognise that the ACS Secretariat can undertake thenecessary engagements with viable bilateral or multilateral partners, without
prejudice to the latter´s status within the ACS further to prior consultation
with and approval by Member States, in order to mobilise financial andtechnical resources in support of the development of the Greater Caribbean;
53.
Instruct the Secretary General of the Association to continue working
on an ACS operational manual for international cooperation, which will reflectand shape corresponding processes so that the various Directorates of the
Association can develop cooperation projects and thereby manage more
effectively the international cooperation offered to the region, generating asounder atmosphere of credibility and confidence in the administrative
processes.

Article XII Plan of Action 2022-2028

54.
Reaffirm our support for the Plan of Action 2022- 2028 and its
strategic objectives and cross-cutting issues aimed at strengthening the
Association and the development of its Member States, therefore we charge
the Ministerial Council, in accordance with article VIII of the Convention
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Establishing the ACS, to supervise and evaluate its implementation at its next
Ordinary Meeting;55.
Acknowledge the valuable space for engagement provided by the
ACS International Cooperation Conference, the Sixth Edition of which took
place in Havana, Cuba on November 11th, 2022, entitled “The Greater
Caribbean, building bridges of transformation and innovation towards a futureof sustainable progress”;
56.
Appreciate the First ACS Strategic Plan 2022-2028, that provides the
Association with a clear vision and mission as an instrument to consolidate
the work of the organisation.
Article XIII Appreciation and Welcome

57.
Express our deepest gratitude to the President of Guatemala, His
Excellency Alejandro Giammattei Falla and to the Government and People ofGuatemala for their warmth and hospitality and for the excellent
arrangements made for the convening of this IX Summit of the Association of
Caribbean States in Antigua, Guatemala;58.
Are also grateful for the permanent support of the ACS Secretariat
under the leadership of His Excellency Rodolfo Sabonge, Secretary General,
whose vision, leadership and dynamic work is already contributing to theeconomic and social recovery processes of the Greater Caribbean and theimprovement of the quality of life of its inhabitants;
59.
Welcome the Chairman of the Association of Caribbean States forthe period 2023-2024, the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs,
International Business and International Cooperation in The Republic of
Suriname, Albert Ramchand Ramdin and extend to him our best wishes for
success during his tenure at the helm of the Association;
60.
Congratulate the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), a geographicalsub-regional grouping and Founding observer of the ACS, on the occasion ofa most significant milestone: the fiftieth anniversary of its establishment since
the signing of the 1973 Treaty of Chaguaramas; join the regional andinternational community in celebrating the vision of CARICOM’s founding
fathers- the Prime Ministers of Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad andTobago, the Hon. Errol Barrow, Forbes Burnham, Michael Manley and Eric
Williams respectively- for a more integrated and united region;
acknowledge the founding and anchoring role of CARICOM leaders inbringing together the Greater Caribbean by pursuing the establishment of the
Association of Caribbean States; and raise a toast to the achievements,
past, present and to come of this Community which continues to produce

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world class leaders and citizens who make our Region proud and our world abetter place.

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