In a historic double expansion for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), French Guiana has officially become the regional bloc’s eighth Associate Member, marking the second new admission to the organization in just 48 hours. The milestone accession was formalized on Tuesday during the 51st Regular Meeting of CARICOM’s Conference of Heads of Government, which is currently being hosted in Saint Lucia.
The accession agreement was signed by two key officials: Philip J. Pierre, CARICOM Chairman and Prime Minister of host nation Saint Lucia, and Gabriel Serville, President of the Territorial Collectivity of French Guiana. Photographic documentation of the signing ceremony was provided by CARICOM, capturing the formal moment of the bloc’s expansion.
With the completion of the signing process, French Guiana immediately gains the right to participate in the ongoing Heads of Government Conference, unlocking opportunities for deeper engagement on regional Caribbean issues. The addition of French Guiana comes on the heels of a similar admission for another French overseas territory in the region: Martinique, which officially took up its position as CARICOM’s seventh Associate Member just two days before French Guiana’s accession.
Martinique’s path to Associate Membership concluded when its membership status entered into force on June 16, 2026. The process began with the signing of its own accession agreement in February 2025, followed by the completion of ratification of the Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of CARICOM, clearing the final procedural hurdle for its admission.