By the Caribbean Journal staff

The government of Antigua has signed a cooperation agreement with the Regional Council of Martinique.

The two parties signed the agreement at the 54th meeting of the OECS Authority in St Lucia last week.

Antigua Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer said he believed that “since we share the same Caribbean space, I believe in the need for further integration of the Caribbean.”

“It behooves us to collectively confront these challenges together,” he said. “We must build bridges of economic and social cooperation to confront the challenges of the ever-evolving global architecture in order to safeguard our future.”

Spencer said he hoped the partnership would lead to strengthened collaboration in a number of areas, including the Hospitality Training Institute, along with sports tourism, renewable energy and agriculture.

Spencer said he looked forward to receiving a technical team from Martinique to discuss the framework of the new partnership.

The OECS meeting ultimately agreed on a process of engagement aimed at, in the shortest possible time, commencing negotiations with Martinique and Guadeloupe for a form of association with the OECS this year.