French Guiana has officially become the Caribbean Community’s (CARICOM) eighth associate member following the signing of an agreement during the 51st Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government in Saint Lucia.

The signing comes just days after Martinique formally joined the regional bloc, further expanding CARICOM‘s ties with the French overseas territories.

Saint Lucia’s Prime Minister Philip Pierre, who currently serves as chairman of the CARICOM Conference of Heads of Government, welcomed French Guiana’s accession, describing it as another step towards deeper regional integration.

“This occasion represents not only a legal or institutional step, but also a meaningful act of regional inclusion,” he said.

He added that French Guiana’s membership would create new opportunities for collaboration in areas including trade, economic development, climate resilience, security, healthcare, education, culture, environmental protection and people-to-people exchanges.

“Integration is not static. It is a living process. It grows when we create new bridges and strengthens when we expand cooperation,” the prime minister said.

He also thanked the CARICOM Secretariat, the Government of France and Gabriel Serville, President of the Territorial Collectivity of French Guiana, for helping advance the membership process.

CARICOM’s associate members now comprise Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Curaçao, the Turks and Caicos Islands, Martinique and French Guiana.

Associate members participate in CARICOM meetings and regional programmes and can contribute to discussions and policy development, but they do not have voting rights in the Community’s highest decision-making bodies.