The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas is pleased to inform the general public that His Excellency Rodolfo Sabonge, Secretary General (SG) of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) made a courtesy call 13 May 2021 on High Commissioner (HC) Reuben Rahming, The Bahamas High Commissioner to CARICOM, ACS and Caribbean countries.
SG Sabonge, a national of Panama, was elected on 1 November 2020, replacing H.E. June Soomer of St. Lucia.
HC Rahming, Director General Sharon Brennen-Haylock and SG Sabonge discussed the various issues being faced within the region as a result of the impact of COVID-19 and climate change as well as the future of the ACS. SG Sabonge discussed his plans to put forward a new action plan for the ACS and indicated the need for more technical work to attract resources. SG Sabonge further spoke of plans to rearrange the ACS structure to refocus on the areas of Trade, Transportation, Tourism and Climate Change. He also noted plans to establish a Regional Response Trust Fund and an Observatory for trade, transport, tourism and climate change.
HC Rahming expressed The Bahamas’ support for the ACS and the work of the SG thus far. Further, HC Rahming inquired as to the potential of leveraging the regional carbon credit value against debt, noting that in The Bahamas alone there are swamps, marshlands, coral reefs and seabed which absorb more carbon than the rainforests which are commonly lauded. High Commissioner Rahming also voiced The Bahamas’ support for the development of a transportation hub as it would allow for the transportation of goods and also food within the region, and reduction in costs.
