FORT DE FRANCE, Martinique (CMC) – The French overseas department of Martinique officially took its seat for the first time in the Caribbean Community (Caricom) during the opening ceremony of the Fifty-first Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government on Sunday, in St Lucia.

This first participation gives tangible expression to Martinique’s accession as an associate m)ember, which entered into force on June 16, 2026, following the signing of the accession agreement last year in Barbados and the ratification of the agreement on the privileges and immunities of Caricom.

During the opening ceremony, Caricom Secretary-General Dr Carla Barnett officially welcomed Martinique as the community’s seventh associate member.