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This article is about ACS (disambiguation)|ACS. For AEC (disambiguation)|AEC, see Association of Caribbean States (disambiguation).
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Association of Caribbean States (ACS)

  • Asociación de Estados del Caribe  (Spanish)
  • Association des États de la Caraïbe  (French)
Flag of the Association of Caribbean States
Flag
Association of Caribbean States membership.svg

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Association of Caribbean States.svg

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Map showing the member countries of the ACS.
Seat of Secretariat Trinidad and Tobago Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
Type Regional organization
Membership
  • 25 members
  • 10 associate members
  • 28 observers
Leaders
Rodolfo Sabonge
• Ministerial Council Chair
 Barbados Bridgetown, Barbados
Establishment Colombia Cartagena, Colombia July 24, 1994
Website
http://www.acs-aec.org/

The Association of Caribbean States (ACS) is a group of countries in and around the Caribbean Basin. It was created to help these countries talk to each other, work together, and take action on common goals. The group was officially formed on July 24, 1994, in Cartagena, Colombia.

The ACS has five main goals:

  • Increase trade between the member countries.
  • Improve transportation in the region.
  • Develop sustainable tourism (tourism that is good for the environment and local communities).
  • Help the region respond better to natural disasters like hurricanes.
  • Protect and conserve the Caribbean Sea.

The association has 25 member countries and several associate members and observers who also participate.

What Does the ACS Do?

Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Bahamas Barbados Belize Bolivia Brazil Canada Chile Colombia Costa Rica Cuba Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador El Salvador Grenada Guatemala Guyana Haiti Honduras Jamaica Mexico Montserrat Nicaragua Panama Paraguay Peru Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Suriname Trinidad and Tobago United States Uruguay Venezuela Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance Community of Latin American and Caribbean States Latin American Economic System Union of South American Nations Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization Andean Community Mercosur Caribbean Community Pacific Alliance ALBA Central American Integration System Central American Parliament Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Latin American Integration Association Central America-4 Border Control Agreement United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement Forum for the Progress and Integration of South America Association of Caribbean States Organization of American States Petrocaribe CARICOM Single Market and EconomySupranational American Bodies
A clickable Euler diagram showing the relationships between various multinational organizations in the Americasv • d • e

The Association of Caribbean States was created to encourage countries in the region to work together. This idea of countries in the same area cooperating is called regionalism. The main goals are to focus on what the Caribbean nations have in common and to remove old barriers from colonial times that kept them apart.

The ACS helps its members have a stronger voice in the world economy. It does this by working together on four main topics. Each topic has a Special Committee that meets to discuss issues and make plans.

  • Trade: The Special Committee on Trade Development works to build a stronger economy for the whole Caribbean. They hold meetings to find new ways for countries to cooperate on business and trade.
  • Transportation: The Special Committee on Transport works on agreements to make air travel between countries easier and safer. They also deal with issues like stopping illegal activities on flights.
  • Sustainable Tourism: This committee promotes a type of tourism that protects the environment. The goal is to make tourism good for nature and also bring money to the Caribbean region.
  • Natural Disasters: The Special Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction helps countries prepare for and respond to natural disasters. They work to make sure the region is organized and ready to handle emergencies.

Protecting the Caribbean Sea

A major project for the ACS is to have the Caribbean Sea recognized as a special zone that needs protection. The group is asking the United Nations (UN) to see the sea as a valuable natural treasure.

The ACS is also trying to get the UN to pass a resolution that would ban ships from carrying dangerous nuclear materials through the Caribbean Sea and the Panama Canal.

How Successful Is the ACS?

Experts have different opinions on how successful the ACS has been.

Some people think the ACS is successful. They point to its many projects, large number of members, and its good relationships with other international groups like the European Union.

Others are not so sure. They say that, unlike other groups such as CARICOM, the ACS didn't achieve enough in its early years to be seen as a major force for development. Some experts believe it might be hard for the ACS to become a powerful player on the world stage. They worry that it might struggle to compete with large trade groups like the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Summits: Meetings of Leaders

The most important meetings of the ACS are called summits. At these meetings, the leaders (like presidents or prime ministers) of all the member countries get together. Leaders from observer countries and other organizations also attend.

During a summit, the leaders review the ACS's goals and make new commitments. They discuss the biggest challenges facing the Caribbean and decide on plans to solve them together. At the end of each summit, they sign a document called a Declaration, which outlines their decisions and plans for action.

The ACS has held nine summits so far:

Membership

The ACS is made up of member states, associate members, and observers.

Member States

These are the 25 full members of the ACS.

Associate Member States

These are territories that participate in the ACS.

Observer States

These countries watch and sometimes take part in ACS activities.

Relationship with Other Groups

Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Caribbean Community Association of Caribbean States Montserrat Antigua and Barbuda Dominica Grenada Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines The Bahamas Barbados Belize Guyana Haiti Jamaica Suriname Trinidad and Tobago Colombia Costa Rica Cuba Dominican Republic Guatemala Honduras Mexico Nicaragua Panama El Salvador VenezuelaSupranational Caribbean Bodies-en
A clickable Euler diagram showing the relationships between various Supranational Caribbean Organisations and agreements.

The ACS works with many other international organizations. These groups are called "Observer Organisations" and include:

See also

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