Association of Caribbean States (ACS) | |
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 Flag | |
 Show Caribbean and the surrounding region Show globeMap indicating ACS members. | |
| Seat of Secretariat |  Port-of-Spain,Trinidad and Tobago |
| Type | Regional organization |
| Membership |
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| Leaders | |
| Ambassador Noemí Espinoza Madrid | |
• Ministerial Council Chair |  Panama[1] |
| Establishment |  Cartagena,Colombia July 24, 1994 |
Website http://www.acs-aec.org/ | |
TheAssociation of Caribbean States (ACS;Spanish:Asociación de Estados del Caribe;French:Association des États de la Caraïbe) is an advisory association of nations centered on theCaribbean Basin.[2] It was formed with the aim of promoting consultation, cooperation, and concerted action among all the countries of theCaribbean coastal area. The five main purposes of the ACS are to promote greater trade between the nations, enhance transportation, developsustainable tourism, facilitate greater and more effective responses to local natural disasters, and to preserve and conserve the Caribbean Sea.[3]
It has twenty-five member states and seven associate members.[4] The convention establishing the ACS was signed on July 24, 1994, inCartagena, Colombia and is deposited with the Government of the Republic of Colombia in English, French and Spanish languages.[5] In the convention the founding observers were declared as the CARICOM Secretariat, the Latin American Economic System, the Central American Integration System, and the Permanent Secretariat of the General Agreement on Central American Economic Integration.[6]
The Association of Caribbean States is intended to promoteregionalism among the member states. The success and functionality of the ACS is greatly debated among scholars. The main goals of the association are "to confirm the new concept of theCaribbean Basin by (A) accentuating those interests the Caribbean nations hold in common and (B) working to eliminate barriers left over from its colonial past."[7]
The organization seeks to use geographic proximity and regional cooperation (regionalism) for political and economic advantage[7] with respect to the global economy and trade blocs such as theNorth American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA),European Union,Arab League, and theSouth Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. The ACS has four distinct areas of interest: Trade, Transport, Sustainable Tourism, and Natural Disasters. Each is pursued by a Special Committee which meets at least twice yearly in order to discuss current regional issues and draft treaties.[8]
Additionally there is a Council of National Representatives of the Special Fund that is in charge of overseeing the resource mobilization and project development of the Association.[6]
One agenda adopted by the ACS has been an attempt to secure the designation of theCaribbean Sea as a special zone in the context of sustainable development, it is pushing for the UN to consider the Caribbean Sea as an invaluable asset that is worth protecting and treasuring.[9] The organisation has sought to form a coalition among member states to devise aUnited Nations General Assembly resolution to ban the transshipment ofnuclear materials through the Caribbean Sea and thePanama Canal.
VERB (Value, Empowerment, Resources, Betterment) programme aimed by ACS for empowering Caribbean peoples in all sectors (agriculture, education, fishery, etc.) with better resources and betterment of infrastructures in Caribbean by prioritising ecological and community welfare values and using renewable natural resources.
The success of the ACS is debated by many scholars on both sides. Those who suggest the ACS is successful would point to the many initiatives the developmental coalition has undertaken, as well as its large membership and relations with other international organisations like theEuropean Union. Those who suggest it is unsuccessful note how by the end of the 1990s, unlikeCARICOM, the ACS had failed to establish a track record which was worthy enough to allow for the evaluation of the ACS as a developmental coalition.[10] Furthermore, some scholars suggest that the ACS is unlikely to become a true player on the international level. Skeptics often point to other failed attempts at economic coalition building like theCentral American Common Market (CACM) as an example of the instability of the region.[10] The influence of NAFTA on the Caribbean outlines the future struggle of the ACS. The future of the ACS in relation to theWestern Hemisphere is uncertain. "Despite governmental statements of commitment to liberalisation, it will be difficult for Caribbean countries to succeed in putting their economies on a firmer footing that would enable them to compete effectively."[11]
The summits held by the ACS are the most important meetings, and are attended by the Heads of State or Government of all the member countries, observer countries, social actors, and observer organizations. These meetings are where they will reaffirm and recommit to the organizations goals, objectives, and plans of action. The summit is a time for careful examination of issues faced by the region and to bring collaborative action towards the issues. The so called highlight of the summit is the adoption and signing of the Declaration, where leaders reaffirm and instruct the successful implementation of the proposed policies and actions that are outlined in the Declaration.[12]
The ACS has held nine summits:
Aruba
British Virgin Islands
Curaçao
France on behalf of: Guadeloupe
Martinique Saint Martin
Netherlands on behalf of:
Sint MaartenSource:[16]
Montserrat does not directly participate in the ACS, though it is affiliated with an observer state, being aBritish Overseas Territory. TheUnited States and U.S. territoriesPuerto Rico and theUnited States Virgin Islands also do not participate.
 | Parts of this article (those related to Anguilla) need to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(March 2012) |
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