PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (GISL) -- Prime Minister Rowley addressed the media on Sunday 5th June 2016 at the VIP Lounge, Piarco International Airport, following his return from the Seventh Summit of Heads of State and/or Government of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS).
The Prime Minister noted that several matters of national and regional concern were discussed at the Summit under the theme "United for a Sustainable Caribbean".
Among the matters which attracted the attention of the Leaders were:
The re-affirmation of the basic principles of the ACS, which initially brought the 25 member States together;
The recognition of the threats and challenges facing the Greater Caribbean in particular the Small Island Developing States;
The responsibility of the ACS in building fair, equitable, people-centered and inclusive societies;
The unrestricted respect for the Purposes and Principles of the of the United Nations Charter and the principles of International Law including the right of every State to determine its own political, economic, social and cultural system.
Leaders also expressed their deep concern and rejection to the progressive decline in correspondent banking relationships with developing countries in light of the recent de-risking actions by some of the major international banking partners.
Dr Rowley also advised that he had engaged in fruitful bi-lateral discussions with the Prime Minister of Jamaica on the issue of perceived discrimination of Jamaican nationals in Trinidad and Tobago; the President of Costa Rica on the matter of advancing this country's trade relationship with Costa Rica and the President of Cuba with regard to furthering the existing relationship with Cuba in the areas of co-operation in healthcare, education, research and training.