CASTRIES, St Lucia – On 7 July, French Guiana became the eighth Associate Member of CARICOM when it signed the agreement defining the conditions for granting French Guiana Associate Membership in CARICOM. This Agreement was signed by CARICOM chair and prime minister of Saint Lucia, Philip J. Pierre and His Excellency Gabriel Serville, president of the Territorial Collectivity of French Guiana.
French Guiana has begun to participate in the 51st Regular Meeting of the Conference of heads of government of CARICOM, underway in Saint Lucia.
CARICOM chair and prime minister of Saint Lucia, Philip J. Pierre, said:
“ This occasion marks another significant step in the continuing evolution of the Caribbean Community and in the strengthening of the wider Caribbean family.
The Caribbean has always been more than a grouping of islands and mainland territories. It is a Community shaped by geography, history, culture, shared vulnerabilities, and common aspirations. Our strength has always rested in our ability to recognise that, although our territories may differ in size, language, constitutional arrangements, and development experience, we are bound together by a shared regional destiny.
Development has allowed us to advance the process through which French Guiana may participate more formally in the work of the Community as an associate member.
Today’s ceremony, therefore, represents not only a legal or institutional step but also a meaningful act of regional inclusion. It reflects CARICOM’s commitment to deepening cooperation with the wider Caribbean and ensuring that our regional architecture remains responsive to the realities of our neighbourhood.
As we prepare for the 51st Regular Meeting of the conference of heads of government of CARICOM, hosted here in Saint Lucia, this signing carries special significance. 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.
French Guiana’s participation as an associate member will provide opportunities for closer dialogue and cooperation in areas of mutual interest. These include regional development, trade and economic engagement, climate resilience, border and security issues, culture, education, health, environmental protection, and people-to-people cooperation.
This ceremony reminds us that integration is not static. It is a living process. It grows when we create new bridges. It strengthens when we expand cooperation. It becomes more relevant when it reflects the real geography, diversity, and potential of the Caribbean.
As chairman of the conference, I am pleased to sign this agreement on behalf of the Community. I do so in the spirit of partnership, mutual respect, and shared commitment to the advancement of our region.
I wish to thank the CARICOM Secretariat, under the leadership of secretary-general Dr Carla Barnett, for its work in advancing this process. I also acknowledge the government of France and the representatives of French Guiana for their engagement and cooperation in bringing us to this point.
Let this ceremony serve as a reminder that CARICOM continues to move forward. We are not only preserving the achievements of regional integration; we are building upon them. We are widening the circle of cooperation and strengthening the bonds that unite the Caribbean.
On behalf of the conference of heads of government, I welcome this important step and look forward to French Guiana’s participation as the Community’s eighth associate member in the upcoming meeting of the Conference.
“May this signing open a new chapter of cooperation, friendship, and shared progress between French Guiana and the Caribbean Community.”
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