France recommits to participating in the development of the Caribbean through its new envoy Antoine Joly

​France has re-committed to participating in the development of the Caribbean, with the accreditation of a new envoy, His Excellency Antoine Joly. Mr Joly told the Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque sat the accreditation ceremony held at CARICOM’S Georgetown Guyana Headquarters Secretariat last week, that France wanted to encourage economic exchanges, contribute to security and strengthen cultural ties within the Region.
 
He said his Government was interested in supporting the Region’s fight against organized crime and drug trafficking, and in strengthening the capacity of local authorities in these regards. Jolly described France as a partner in the protection of the environment that it shares with the Region, and since its Chairmanship of COP21, France has maintained “close dialogue” with the Caribbean in the fight against climate change.
 
He added, “With the risk of natural disasters facing the Caribbean, France favors a logic of prevention, leading the Climate Risk Early Warning Systems (CREWS) initiative. It implements cooperation actions in the most vulnerable countries and seeks to leverage other funding and projects”.
 
Against that backdrop he said the purpose of the One Planet Summit was to fulfill the financial commitments of the International Community for climate change adaption in vulnerable countries. France’s new envoy said, “we are ready to sign the agreement on civil protection between France and the Caribbean Community, on Technical Co-operation and mutual assistance in civil security”.
 
France has been an important partner with the Community in areas, including Security, Agriculture, Health and Disaster Management. The Ambassador noted that economic exchanges and commercial trade was also a priority of France within the Economic Partnership Agreement between CARIFORUM and European Union.
 
In that context he said France supported Guadeloupe, Martinique and French Guiana’s applications for associate members’ status in CARICOM. This will allow new initiatives to flourish in respect of their relationship with the European Union as French Overseas Departments. He added, “For that they will have, and you will always have the support of France and its government”.