Above: Martinique Regional Council President Serge Letchimy with the delegation from Suriname (Photo: Region Martinique)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Martinique Regional Council President Serge Letchimy hosted a visit from a delegation from Suriname on Tuesday.

The visit was the latest part of a move by Martinique’s top official to increase the French department’s ties with the rest of the Caribbean and particularly CARICOM.

In a statement, Letchimy’s office said the Regional Council President and the delegation discussed issues including the opening of air countries between Martinique, Suriname and French Guiana, the two sides’ needs in terms of energy resources and other opportunities.

Martinique and Suriname additionally discussed Martinique’s accession to “various international forums,” Letchimy’s office said.

Letchimy has been pushing to deepen the island’s regional integration, most recently manifesting itself in the island’s associate membership in the Association of Caribbean States earlier this year.

Martinique has been looking to apply for membership in CARICOM as well, a regional grouping of which Suriname is a member.