Barbados will take over the Chairmanship of the Africa, Caribbean, Pacific (ACP) Group in Geneva, from September 1, and work with other countries to build a small island developing states (SIDS) coordination mechanism to better advance SIDS’ priorities.
Barbados succeeds Samoa, which, under the leadership of Ambassador Nella Navita Levy, coordinated the group for the past year, including at the 13th World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Meeting.
The last time Barbados coordinated the group was more than a decade ago, under the leadership of former Ambassador Marion Williams.
At an ACP meeting held on July 17, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Barbados to the United Nations, the World Trade Organization and other International Organizations in Geneva, Matthew Wilson, was appointed the new ACP Group Coordinator.
Ambassador Wilson, speaking about the chairmanship, said: “Barbados is honoured to serve as ACP Coordinator for the year beginning September 1, 2024. We want to represent all members in a fair, transparent, and inclusive manner. The ACP is a powerful force in the WTO, and this must be maintained.”
As ACP Coordinator, Ambassador Wilson’s primary responsibility includes advocating and representing the interests of a wide range of developing countries with different economic profiles, differing priorities, and diverging interests.
The ACP comprises 79 developing Member States from Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific and strives to achieve the sustainable development of its members and their progressive integration into the world economy.
The Geneva chapter of the ACP is focused on work in the WTO around trade negotiations, especially on the fisheries subsidies and agriculture negotiations; WTO reform, including the dispute settlement process; environment and climate change matters; and trade facilitation and wider development issues.
The ACP serves to accelerate the political, economic, and social advancement of ACP peoples through good governance, poverty eradication, promotion of trade, sustainable development, and equitable integration into the global economy.
In addition to coordinating the ACP, Barbados, through Ambassador Wilson, has partnered with the Fiji Mission, through Ambassador Luke Daunivalu, to create a SIDS ecosystem approach that would ensure better coherence and collaboration amongst SIDS in Geneva.
There are currently 25 SIDS accredited to the United Nations Office at Geneva, in addition to Associated States. Due to their size, small budget, and limited human capital, SIDS missions often have to make strategic decisions on where to focus their limited resources.
This makes it challenging for small missions to cover a multiplicity of issues (Trade, Intellectual Property Rights, Health, Labour, Information Technology/Digital, Human Rights/Humanitarian Affairs, and the Environment); share information; and prepare possible common positions.
This SIDS ecosystem approach seeks to better harness the power of SIDS in Geneva to make a meaningful and coordinated impact. (PR/GIS)
Caption: Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Barbados to the United Nations, the World Trade Organization and other International Organizations in Geneva, Matthew Wilson, at an ACP meeting on July 17
