ST. LUCIA: A formal ceremony was held to welcome the French territory last week.
The French overseas territory of Martinique has been given the green light to join the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
Deputy Head of Mission from the Embassy of the Republique of France, Philippe Seigneurin, officially presented the Instruments of Accession to the Director General of the OECS Dr. Didacus Jules, during a formal ceremony at the OECS Commission Headquarters in Saint Lucia last week.
“I have the honour and the privilege and the pleasure to inform you that the procedures required by the constitution of the Republique for the entry into force of the said agreement have been completed,” Seigneurin said. “It’s a great day for Martinique, for the French Government and for me.”
Dr. Jules welcomed Martinique into the OECS fold. “Today we embrace once again but in an official manner, Martinique into the family of the OECS. Let us continue walking together,” he said.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ Ambassador to the OECS Ellsworth John, who attended the ceremony, said Martinique’s contribution and participation was a very important milestone for the OECS.
“It shows an interest of other countries in being a part of our forward movement as an organization,” he said.
Martinique moved towards membership of the OECS in Feb. 2015 when the French territory formally signed the documents to initiate accession to Associate Membership to the sub-regional grouping.
The signing ceremony was the high point of the 60th Meeting of the OECS Authority held for the first time in a French Territory.
Prior to that, in Oct. 2014, the Regional Council of Martinique in a unanimous historical vote agreed to join the Eastern Caribbean fraternity of nations.
