Martinique officially acquires Associate Membership within the OECS Sub Grouping on 7th April 2016

Martinique officially acquired Associate Membership in the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Sub Grouping, on 7th April 2016. Philippe SEIGNEURIN, Deputy Head of Mission from the Embassy of the Republique of France, officially presented the instruments to the Director General of the OECS Dr. Didacus Jules, during a formal ceremony on Thursday 7th April 2016, at the OECS Commission Headquarters in Castries Saint Lucia. The French government official expressed great pleasure in presenting the formal approval instrument of the agreement.
 
Philippe SEIGNEURIN said “It’s a great day for Martinique, for the French Government and for me, because and I quote: “With reference to article 1 of the agreement signed in Shoelcher on February 4, 2015 between the government of the French Republique and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, defining the modalities for admitting Martinique to Associate Membership of the OECS, 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.”
 
Staff of the OECS Commission and OECS Commissioners were among the invitees to witness the handing over of the Instruments of Accession.
Director General of the OECS Dr. Didacus Jules expressed jubilation for Martinique’s official confirmation of Accession to the OECS.
 
He said “We would like to express our appreciation to the French Republic through its Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. Jean-Marc Ayrault for assiduously pushing this through the legislative processes required for its proclamation. We also would like to recognize the historical commitment of President of the Executive Council of the Territorial Authority Hon. Alfred Marie Jeanne who has consistently advocated the integration of Martinique into the family of the Caribbean”.
He continued, “I would be grateful if Commissioner Lesales of the Territorial Authority transmit to President Marie Jeanne our great anticipation of our meeting to discuss the deepening of this process. Today we embrace once again but in an official manner our sister Martinique in the family of the OECS. Welcome again sister, your time has come, let us continue walking together.”
 
On February 4, 2015, Martinique made the historic step towards membership of the OECS when the French overseas territory formally signed the documents to initiate accession to Associate Membership to the sub regional grouping. At that time, President of the Regional Council of Martinique Serge Letchimy, signed on behalf of the French Territory.
 
The signing ceremony was the highpoint of the 60th Meeting of the OECS Authority held for the first time in a French Territory. Prior to that, on October 14, 2014, the Regional Council of Martinique in a unanimous historical vote, agreed to join the Eastern Caribbean Nations Fraternity.