Antigua and Barbuda Concludes Successful CICAD Chairmanship, Advances Hemispheric Drug Policy Framework
December 21, 2025
Lt. Col. Edward H. Croft, Director of the Office of National Drug and Money Laundering Control Policy (ONDCP), has concluded Antigua and Barbuda's tenure as Chair of the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) at the organization's 78th Regular Session, held on 15 –18 December 2025 in Washington, D.C.
During the one-year Chairmanship, Antigua and Barbuda successfully convened two Regular Sessions of the Commission and led the establishment of the Working Group tasked with reviewing and updating the Hemispheric Plan of Action on Drugs for the period 2026–2030. Three virtual meetings of the Working Group were convened between June and November 2025, with broad participation from OAS member states.
In May 2025, Antigua and Barbuda hosted the OAS General Assembly, where Lt. Col. Croft presented CICAD's Annual Report to Ministers and senior officials from across the hemisphere—marking a historic occasion for the Caribbean within the inter-American system.
"As a small island state, this chairmanship demonstrated that leadership within CICAD is not defined by size, but by commitment," stated Lt. Col. Croft in his closing remarks. "I encourage Caribbean states and smaller countries in Central America to consider assuming this responsibility and to continue shaping policies and programmes that reflect their priorities."
Col. Croft extended appreciation to the CICAD Executive Secretariat, the Unit Heads, and colleagues in Antigua and Barbuda and the Antigua and Barbuda Mission in Washington, D.C. for their support throughout the year.
Opening remarks by Edward Croft, Director of the National Drug Control and Money Laundering Policy Office of Antigua and Barbuda, during the opening of #CICAD78 pic.twitter.com/G6YV9agovm
— CICAD_OEA (@CICAD_OEA) December 16, 2025
