2 weeks ago
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Martinique has officially become the 7th Associate Member of the Caribbean Community, strengthening CARICOM’s ties with the French Caribbean territory. The island’s accession took effect on June 16 and was formally recognised during the opening ceremony of the Fifty-First Regular Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government in Saint Lucia. Martinique joins Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Curaçao and the Turks and Caicos Islands as associate members of the regional bloc. As Secretary General Dr Carla Barnett faces opposition in her recent appointment, she welcomed Martinique and spoke on the essence and importance of unity and inclusion.
Dr. Carla Barnett, Secretary General, CARICOM: “CARICOM Eminent Persons Group continues to work with stakeholders to facilitate dialogue and participation of political and civil society representatives of the people of Haiti, with a view to promoting broad consensus on the pathways and mechanisms to achieving peace and security, and holding credible elections as agreed. The range of issues confronting our young people dictates that regional policies and solutions for their development cannot be fragmented or reactive. Instead, they must be strategic, anchored in real-world experiences, and empower their participation.”
Martinique remains an overseas region of France and part of the European Union. As an associate member, however, Martinique will not hold voting rights in CARICOM decision-making and does not participate as a sovereign state in the Community’s governance structures. CARICOM leaders say the expansion of associate membership is a testament to the its determination to build stronger partnerships across the wider Caribbean and to address shared regional challenges through greater cooperation.
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