Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has called for a closer working relationship with American Caribbean States (ACS) and other regional entities in combating challenges posed by natural disasters.

He made this call while addressing the ACS Inaugural Excellence Lecture held at the Hyatt Regency in Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday.

According to Dr. Gonsalves, the ACS must work closely with entities particularly OECS, CARICOM, ALBA and specialized agencies such as CDEMA in order to streamline coordination of disaster preparedness.

Dr. Gonsalves urged member countries of the ACS to embrace the Sendai Framework for disaster risk reduction, which seeks to substantially reduce disaster risk and losses of lives and livelihoods.

He noted that some countries within the ACS are hailed as best practice examples in disaster preparedness and urged for the signing of a comprehensive memorandum of understanding between ACS and CDEMA noting that greater coordination is necessary.

According to the prime minister, the ACS must mainstream climate change in all functional activities of cooperation and coordination, while focusing on the protection, preservation, and sustainable development of the Caribbean Sea.

The ACS, which was founded on July 24, 1994, has as one if its four main central purposes the facilitation of more effective, coordinated responses to natural disasters in its twenty-four member states and seven associated members in the Caribbean Basin.

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