The Secretaries General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) have signed a Co-operation Agreement which now formalises the already close cooperation between the two organisations.
The point was underscored by the Secretaries General of CARICOM and the ACS, Mr Edwin Carrington and Dr. Simon Molina Duarte respectively at the signing ceremony which took place at the Head quarters of the CARICOM Secretariat in Georgetown, Guyana on November 13, 1997.
Both Secretaries General pointed out that both organisastions already cooperate and work closely. They gave an example of an established pattern of Information sharing on pertinent issues to the Organisations and their constituencies.
“Countries should cooperate no matter what their historical background. We are all a part of the same community of nations,” said Dr. Duarte.
The Caribbean Community was accorded the status of Founding Observer in recognition of its efforts in the establishment of the ACS and the contribution it is expected to make in the fulfillment of its objectives.
The 25-member ACS, which includes countries of the Caribbean, Central and South America was founded in 1994 and has its headquarters in Port-Of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.
The Secretariat of the Association of Caribbean States, hereinafter referred to as “The ACS” and the Secretariat of the Caribbean Community, hereinafter referred to as “CARICOM”.
Bearing in mind that CARICOM is a sub-regional integration organisation and recognised as such by the Convention;
Acknowledging that CARICOM was accorded the status of Founding Observer by Agreement 5/96 in recognition of its efforts in the establishment of the ACS and the contribution it will make to the fulfillment of its objectives;
Recalling that the ACS is an organisation for consultation, cooperation and concerted action, whose purpose is to identify and promote the implementation of policies and programmes designed to inter alia, harness, utilise and develop the collective capabilities of the Caribbean Region to achieve sustained cultural, economic, social, scientific and technological advancement; promote an enhanced economic space for trade and investment; and to establish, consolidate and augment, as appropriate, institutional structures and cooperative arrangements;
Recognising the unique role envisaged in the Convention for the sub-regional integration organisations in the fulfillment of the purposes and functions of the Association;
Taking into account that, pursuant to the functions set out in Article XV of the Convention establishing the ACS, the Secretariat of the ACS has been mandated by Agreement No. 4/95 adopted by the Ministerial Council of the ACS at its First Ordinary Meeting, to enter into special arrangements with CARICOM , SELA, SICA and SIECA to facilitate their participation in the work of the Ministerial Council and the Special Committee,
HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
(i) The Secretariat of the ACS and the Secretariat of the Caribbean Community shall work in close collaboration and shall hold consultations on a regular basis on matters of common interest and in support of the objectives of the ACS and CARICOM.
(ii) The Secretary-General of the ACS and the Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community shall adopt the measures necessary to ensure effective co-operation and coordination between both Secretariats.
(iii) The Secretary-General of the ACS shall invite the Secretary-General of CARICOM to participate in Joint Consultations with all other organisations with which the Secretariat of the ACS shall have concluded cooperation agreements with a view to the harmonisation of the respective Work Programmes in support of the ACS objectives including the implementation of decisions taken by the Ministerial Council and the Special Committees of the ACS.
(i) In accordance with the provisions of Article 6.2 of Agreement No 4/95 adopted by the Ministerial Council at its First Ordinary Meeting, the Secretary-General of the ACS shall invite the Secretary-General of CARICOM to be represented at all Meetings of the Ministerial Council and the Special Committees established under Article VIII of the Convention establishing the ACS and to all Conferences convened by the Association. The aforementioned will take into account the pertinent rules and decisions adopted by the Ministerial Council;
(ii) Subject to the relevant provisions of the Treaty establishing the Caribbean Community and to the decisions adopted by the competent organs the Secretary-General of CARICOM shall invite the Secretary-General of the ACS, to be represented at the Meetings and Conferences of that organisation.
(i) The CARICOM Secretariat representing the Caribbean Community, may participate as Founder Observer in the substantive discussions of the Meetings and Conferences of the ACS, in accordance with the Convention establishing the ACS, the rules and decisions adopted by the Ministerial Council and the special arrangements provided for in Article 6.2 of Agreement No. 4/95 and Agreement 5/96 of the Ministerial Council. It may also be consulted on procedural and other issues on a case by case basis.
(ii) The CARICOM Secretariat may present proposals both in oral as well as documented form on issues of mutual interest and which are identified as priority topics
(iii) The CARICOM Secretariat. upon request, may collaborate with the ACS Secretariat, in the organisation of the Meetings of the Ministerial Council, the Special Committees and Conferences convened by the ACS, including the presentation of pre-determined agenda items and assisting the ACS Secretariat in the development of the Draft Reports of such Meetings and Conferences.
(iv) The CARICOM Secretariat may participate as Founding Observers of the ACS on issues relating to the Caribbean Community. During such interventions, the representatives of the CARICOM Secretariat shall be recognised as the representative of the Community in accordance with the relevant decision of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, adopted at this Seventh Intersessional Meeting in Georgetown, Guyana.
(i) The Secretariat of the ACS and the CARICOM Secretariat agree to exchange as far as possible, information and documentation of a public nature on matters of common interest and in support of the objectives of the ACS;
(ii) The Secretariat of the ACS and the CARICOM Secretariat may, whenever circumstances require, exchange information and documentation on specific programmes and projects with a view to achieving greater complementarity and more effective coordination between the effective use of their resources in their compilation, analysis, publication and diffusion.
The Secretariat of the ACS and the CARICOM Secretariat shall hold consultation on a regular basis on matters related to the application of this Agreement.
The Secretariat of the ACS and the Secretariat of the CARICOM shall conclude such supplementary agreements as may be deemed necessary for advancing cooperation and coordination between the two Secretariats.
This Agreement shall enter into force on the date of its signature by the duly authorised representatives of the Secretariat of the ACS and the CARICOM Secretariat.
This Agreement may be modified by mutual agreement of the Secretariat of the ACS and the CARICOM Secretariat. Proposed amendments shall be presented in written form to the other Party and shall enter into force three months following the communication by the other Party of its agreement to them.
This Agreement shall be of indefinite duration
This agreement may be terminated by any of the Parties by written communication. The termination will go into affect six (6) months following the date of notification of same. Termination will not, however, have any affect on those activities already under way or which were agreed to in the framework of the present Agreement, and which will therefore be continued until their completion.
In Witness whereof, the legally authorised representatives of the Parties sign two identical copies, in English, Spanish, and French, equally binding, of the present agreement in Georgetown, Guyana, on the day of month of November of nineteen hundred and ninety-seven.
