Above: Martinique (CJ Photo)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

France’s departments in the Caribbean are looking to deepen their ties with the rest of the region.

Martinique, Guadeloupe and French Guiana are all considering applications for associate membership in CARICOM.

The news comes following last year’s high-profile CARICOM summit in St Vincent and the Grenadines, when Martinique’s Regional Council President, Serge Letchimy, made the first-ever visit by a regional council president at a CARICOM summit.

French Guiana and CARICOM have begun talks involving an application to become an associate member in the Caribbean Community.

CARICOM Secretary General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque met last week with a team from French Guiana, led by the president of the department’s regional council, Rodolphe Alexandre.

That came after a meeting with a team from Martinique; Guadeloupe is also planning similar discussions next month.

Two other islands, Curacao and St Maarten, have also applied for associate membership.