Martinique now an associate member of Caricom

Martinique has officially taken its seat as an associate member of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), marking a new era of regional engagement. The French overseas department participated for the first time in the Fifty-first Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government in St. Lucia, following its accession which entered into force on June 16, 2026.

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It took many years for us to be accepted into Caricom. This shows how difficult it can be to belong to two institutional frameworks at once. But today, we are here.

Caricom Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett formally welcomed Martinique as the community's seventh associate member. Serge Letchimy, president of Martinique's executive council, expressed the significance of this moment, noting the years of effort required for acceptance. "This should not be seen as an end in itself. It is only the beginning. We must now move into action. Businesses, financing and investment must now come on board," he stated.

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This should not be seen as an end in itself. It is only the beginning. We must now move into action. Businesses, financing and investment must now come on board.

Outgoing Caricom chairman, Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew of Saint Kitts and Nevis, highlighted Martinique's arrival as a testament to Caricom's core mission of uniting Caribbean countries and territories. "We believe that together we are stronger," he said, emphasizing the benefits of collective institutions that individual nations might struggle to establish alone.

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We believe that together we are stronger.

Letchimy envisions Martinique's dual positioning as a catalyst for concrete projects, economic exchanges, and enhanced cooperation. The goal is to transform Martinique into a pivotal connection point between the Caribbean, the Americas, Europe, and Africa. "We are reconnecting with our common home: the Caribbean. A door has been opened. It truly exists. We must now use it," he concluded, signaling a proactive approach to maximizing the opportunities presented by this integration.

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We have a number of institutions that benefit us and that would be difficult for each country to establish on its own, but together we are able to make them a reality for the benefit of our people.