PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) — Several Caribbean Community (Caricom) member states will be represented at the Fifth Summit of the Heads of State of The Association of Caribbean States (ACS), to be held in Haiti this week.

Sustainable tourism, trade, air and maritime transport and disaster risk reduction are some of the issues to be discussed at the summit, themed: “Revitalizing the Vision of the Association of Caribbean States for a Stronger and More United Greater Caribbean”.

The ACS maintains that the summit intends to not only facilitate discussion, but aims to approve the Declaration of Haiti, a document on institutional transformation of the future of the ACS, as well as the Plan of Action, which seeks to strengthen the concerted and collaborative strategy for cooperation in the thrust for development of the Member and Associate Member States of the region.

At the official launch of the Summit on April 3, Haitian President Michel Martelly and Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Richard Casimir said they were looking forward to hosting the conference which bears certain historic significance for Haiti, as it is the country’s first time hosting an international summit.

It will be held in Pétion-Ville from April 23 to 26.

Some observer countries scheduled attend are South Korea, Finland, Argentina, Spain and Serbia.

Secretary generals from other regional organisations such as the Latin American and Caribbean Economic System will be in attendance, as well as representatives from the Central American Integration System and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Haiti-to-host-ACS-Summit-this-week_14121572#ixzz2RGpmeHZm