



GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) — The French territories in the Caribbean have begun discussions with the Caribbean Community (Caricom) on their applications to become associate members of the 15-member regional grouping, the Guyana-based Caricom Secretariat announced yesterday.





It said Caricom Secretary General Irwin LaRocque met last Thursday with a team from French Guiana led by the president of the Regional Council Rodolphe Alexandre and followed a meeting on Wednesday with a team from Martinique.







The Caricom Secretariat said that this will be followed by similar discussions next month with representatives of Guadeloupe.







"The discussions on Thursday focused on the terms and conditions of Associate Membership of Caricom, regional cooperation in the Caribbean and the relationship between Caricom and French Guiana," the secretariat said.







It said LaRocque also received a presentation on the Geographic Information System developed in French Guiana, using satellite and Internet technologies. The French Guiana delegation also held discussions with the Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM) Directorate during the visit.







LaRocque said the discussions followed on a mandate from Caricom leaders to engage the territories informing the French delegation that "we are all part of the Caribbean" and that their application was receiving serious consideration.







Alexandre said his territory strongly believed in the convergence of the Caribbean in economics, health and education.



He said French Guiana had already engaged with Trinidad and Tobago on energy issues and Suriname with respect to mining and was also involved with the Community on issues of climate change and bio-diversity.







The council president also referred to a project to provide a satellite to boost the digital capacity of the region.







Apart from the French territories, two of the former Netherlands Antilles, Curacao and Saint Maarten, have also applied for associate membership. Initial discussions have already taken place with Curacao, the Caricom Secretariat said.



