French Guiana has officially become the eighth associate member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), marking a significant expansion of the regional bloc as leaders gather in St. Lucia for the 51st Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government.
The agreement granting French Guiana associate membership was signed Tuesday by CARICOM Chairman and St. Lucian Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre and Gabriel Serville, president of the Territorial Collectivity of French Guiana.
French Guiana has already begun participating in the regional summit, which is currently underway in St. Lucia.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Pierre described the move as an important milestone in the continued evolution of CARICOM and the strengthening of ties across the wider Caribbean.
“The Caribbean has always been more than a grouping of islands and mainland territories,” Pierre said. “It is a community shaped by geography, history, culture, shared vulnerabilities and common aspirations.”
He said the agreement represents more than a legal or institutional step, calling it “a meaningful act of regional inclusion” that reflects CARICOM’s commitment to expanding cooperation throughout the region.
Pierre noted that French Guiana’s associate membership will create new opportunities for collaboration in several key areas, including regional development, trade and economic cooperation, climate resilience, border security, education, health, environmental protection, culture and people-to-people exchanges.
“As we prepare for the 51st Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM, this signing carries special significance,” Pierre said. “It signals our continued commitment to broadening engagement, strengthening relationships and ensuring that the Caribbean Community continues to adapt to the changing circumstances of our region.”
He also described regional integration as “a living process” that grows through expanded cooperation and stronger partnerships across the Caribbean.
Pierre thanked the CARICOM Secretariat, led by Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett, for advancing the membership process and also acknowledged the Government of France and representatives of French Guiana for their cooperation.
“Let this ceremony serve as a reminder that CARICOM continues to move forward,” he said. “We are not only preserving the achievements of regional integration; we are building upon them.”
Associate membership allows non-independent Caribbean territories to participate in CARICOM’s work and collaborate on matters of mutual interest, although they do not enjoy the full rights and obligations of the organisation’s 15 full member states.
With the addition of French Guiana, CARICOM now has eight associate members, further broadening the organisation’s engagement across the wider Caribbean.
caribbeannationalweekly.com
