BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - Barbados and Martinique have a signed a five-year cooperation agreement establishing a bilateral framework for cooperation in a number of areas.
Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley and president of the Territorial Collectivity of Martinique, Serge Letchimy, signing. cooperation agreementThe accord was by Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley and the president of the Territorial Collectivity of Martinique, Serge Letchimy, signed on the sidelines of the recently held Caribbean Community (CARICOM) summit in St. Lucia.
Martinique officially became the seventh associate member of CARICOM and according to a statement released in Fort-de-France, the agreement with Barbados immediately gives this new phase an operational dimension.
“It is no longer simply a matter of affirming that Martinique belongs to the Caribbean region. The agreement establishes a bilateral framework for cooperation with a regional neighbour capable of sharing expertise, experiences, and common priorities.”
Letchimy said Martinique is not merely “taking a seat at the table” of CARICO, but wants to build, propose, and take action.
Nine sectors have been identified under the agreement in cultural and creative industries, sports, education, vocational training, risk management, health, tourism, fisheries, and trade facilitation.
“This diversity shows that the relationship we are seeking is not limited to institutions. It directly involves students, artists, athletes, tourism professionals, fishermen, businesses, and healthcare providers,” the statement said, noting that “for young people, this could involve new training programmes, skills exchanges, or joint programs.
“For the cultural sectors, this agreement can build bridges between two neighboring territories that share a regional space but whose languages, administrative systems, and economic networks often remain separate.”
The agreement provides for a Joint Cooperation Committee, co-chaired by Barbados and the Territorial Collectivity of Martinique.
The Committee will be responsible for defining priorities, approving programs, monitoring their implementation, and reviewing their results. A Technical Secretariat will be responsible for operational oversight. An annual report must detail the actions taken, the resources mobilized, performance indicators, challenges encountered, and the planned programme for the following year.
“By providing for regular evaluations, Martinique and Barbados are demonstrating their commitment to making the relationship measurable—and, above all, to making its effects visible to the populations concerned.
The agreement is renewable after five years and gives both parties “time to develop projects beyond one-off meetings.
“It also provides a stable framework for their relationship, as Martinique seeks to strengthen its position between the Caribbean, Europe, the Americas, and Africa.”
