When the International Association for Music Education (ISME) held its conference in Tampa Florida in 1994, nine Caribbean music educators attended. But the enthusiasm with which they greeted the various events waned when the time came for ISME's national associations to meet. There was no such association in the Caribbean. There were no regional music associations of any kind despite the many commonalities that exist in musical cultures and education systems across the region. The group resolved to form a regional association of music educators, the Association of Caribbean Music Educators (ACME). For its first major task, the Association would endorse requests that had been made to the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) for the provision of CXC music examinations for the 16+ age group. Secondly, members of the executive of ACME would assist in the development and implementation of the music syllabus if so requested. One year later at the inaugural meeting of the Association of Caribbean Music Educators, a representative of the Caribbean Examinations Council reported that the Council had agreed to the Association's request and the development of the syllabus would begin immediately.