Tourism pressure on Caribbean heritage sites is no longer a marginal or one-off phenomenon. In many areas, the steady rise in visitor numbers, the increased vulnerability of ecosystems and local economic expectations are testing management models that have reached saturation point.
It is not so much the principles of World Heritage that are at stake, but rather the ability of territories to manage them over the long term. It was against this backdrop that UNESCO brought together World Heritage site managers from Latin America and the Caribbean in Santo Domingo. It was a discreet meeting, but one that revealed a shift in thinking: world heritage is now seen as a governance issue, rather than a lever for attractiveness.
Why is UNESCO intervening now?
For several years now, UNESCO has been observing a rapid evolution in uses around listed sites. In the Caribbean, this dynamic is particularly noticeable. Tourist flows are growing faster than the capacity to regulate them, while climate change is accentuating the fragility of natural environments and urban structures. This pressure is compounded by a still largely economic interpretation of heritage, which is often mobilized as a vector of visibility before being thought of as a common good to be preserved.
UNESCO ‘s intervention is part of a process of clarification. The aim is not to call the label into question, but to point out that classification entails lasting responsibilities. The meeting organized in Santo Domingo, from November 24 to 26, 2025, brought together management authorities and experts from nine countries in the region. Organized with the Ministry of Culture and the municipality of the National District, the workshop was part of the “Communities for Heritage – Latin America and the Caribbean” program, funded by the Ministry of Culture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Discussions focused on very concrete issues such as planning, monitoring flows, site governance and the ability of territories to arbitrate between visitor numbers, conservation and local uses.
UNESCO's "new lines": what's really changing?
Behind the discussions, a number of basic lines emerge.
- – The first concerns the shift from a promotion approach to a management approach. The World Heritage is no longer seen as a tourist showcase, but as a space to be regulated.. Controlling traffic flows has become a central challenge, supported by tools for monitoring, assessing and anticipating visitor numbers.
- – The second major change is the emphasis placed on local communities. UNESCO insists on their effective integration into site governance and economic spin-offs. Heritage cannot be sustainable if it is perceived as a resource captured from the outside, with no tangible benefit for the territories that bear it. This approach goes beyond the principle of inclusion to become a criterion for the credibility of management systems.
- – Third structuring orientation: the operational integration of sustainability. Protecting ecosystems, adapting to climate change and managing tourism infrastructures are no longer declarations of intent. They are now part of concrete requirements, calling for clear, documented arbitration.
UNESCO also emphasizes local capacity-building, through training, heritage engineering and regional cooperation, in order to reduce the gaps between well-endowed sites and more fragile territories.
What these lines mean for Caribbean territories
For sites that have already been classified, these guidelines translate into higher standards. Conservation can no longer be dissociated from tourism management, and management authorities are called upon to demonstrate their ability to reconcile visitor numbers, site protection and social acceptability.
The message is just as clear for territories applying for or registered on the tentative lists: future registrations will have to be based on sound management projects, integrating social, environmental and economic dimensions from the outset.
This development can be a real challenge. It highlights the complex trade-offs between immediate economic needs and long-term preservation, between tourist appeal and quality of life for local residents. But it also opens up the prospect of heritage tourism models that are better adapted to island realities, less dependent on growth in visitor numbers alone, and more based on the control of usage.
Figures that reinforce the urgency
The data presented at the workshop underline the scale of the challenges. Tourism accounts for almost 10% of the gross domestic product of Latin America and the Caribbean and supports more than 35 million jobs in the region. However, this rapid growth is not without consequences: around 40% of World Heritage sites now report pressure from tourism.
In Santo Domingo, for example, the number of international visitors to the historic center in 2024 was 30% up on the previous year. This trend is a concrete illustration of the tensions faced by heritage site managers, who are called upon to maintain the balance between attractiveness, conservation and urban functioning.
Towards a heritage conceived as a governance tool
The UNESCO-sponsored initiative also calls into question a tourism model that has long dominated the region. An over-exploited heritage, reduced to its image value, tends to be rapidly exhausted, to the detriment of the territories and their inhabitants. The guidelines discussed in Santo Domingo sketch out another path, that of a heritage conceived as a shared resource, to be managed and passed on rather than consumed.
The Santo Domingo meeting does not redefine world heritage; it redefines the responsibilities that go with it. For the Caribbean, these more demanding lines represent both a constraint and an opportunity.
They impose higher standards, but also offer a framework for reinforcing site governance, better controlling use and integrating heritage into sustainable territorial strategies. In the long term, World Heritage could thus become more than just a label of excellence in the Caribbean, but a veritable steering tool at the service of territories.
She observes a rapid intensification of tourist flows in the region, combined with increased vulnerability of ecosystems and historic centers. These developments are putting existing management models under strain. By reinforcing its guidelines, UNESCO seeks to remind us that World Heritage status implies lasting responsibilities in terms of governance, conservation and territorial balance.
It marks a clear shift from a promotional approach to a management approach. Controlling flows, integrating local communities and adapting to climate change become central criteria. Heritage is no longer seen simply as a lever for attractiveness, but as a space to be regulated and managed over the long term.
For sites already listed, these guidelines imply a higher level of requirement in terms of planning and governance. For candidate territories, they make future registrations conditional on the existence of solid, credible management projects. Ultimately, these guidelines may encourage tourism models that are better adapted to island realities and more respectful of local populations.
On November 19, during a key moment for understanding the dynamics of RUP and PTOM, the Centre Europe Direct Antilles-Guyane (CEDAG), in partnership with the COMOB of Martinique and the DRAJES Martinique, organized two discussion sessions on the occasion of the visit of Flora Goudappel, specialist in European constitutional law and Europe Direct Curaçao representative. The aim of the meeting was to gain a better understanding of the links between the European Union and the Outermost Regions (RUP) and Overseas Countries and Territories (PTOM). It was part of a shared desire to explore what RUP and PTOM dynamics mean in concrete terms for Caribbean territories.
Une carrière mondiale et un retour triomphal
The visit was part of a dynamic initiated a year ago: Curaçao wanted to gain a better understanding of Martinique, its European status and the scope for cooperation in the Caribbean. A territory of 160,000 inhabitants, which has just proudly celebrated its historic first qualification for the World Cup, was demonstrating its desire to forge concrete relations with another neighboring island territory… and a European one at that. A way of demonstrating that, beyond institutional arrangements, cooperation is first and foremost rooted in human initiatives.
European statutes structure Caribbean relations
In the course of the discussion, Flora Goudappel highlighted the nuances between RUP and PTOM status.
The RUP – such as Martinique, French Guiana and the Canaries – belong fully to the European Union, and benefit from derogations adapted to their insular and economic realities.
The PTOM, including Curaçao, are not part of the European Union, but enjoy a preferential position that gives them access to the European market and enables them to develop partnerships. These differences profoundly structure relations in the region.
To illustrate these distinctions, Flora Goudappel drew on real-life situations: migratory pressures in the Canaries, national choices concerning the Schengen visa, and debates in the Netherlands surrounding the planned changes to the status of Bonaire and Sint Eustatius. These realities show how in the RUP and PTOM frameworks shape the trajectories of each territory.
Building European cooperation: a mechanism for working together
One strong idea came up again and again: to use European funds, you need to master the necessary skills.
Work carried out with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OCDE) over a period of eighteen months has highlighted a real challenge: coordination between the European Union, the State, the Region and operational players needs to be strengthened to enable smoother access to funds. When one of these links is weakened, the whole process becomes more complicated, particularly for the RUP and PTOM.
The OCDE toolbox – now accessible via the Centre Europe Direct Antilles-Guyane (CEDAG) – has been designed to support local teams, facilitate their work and make European schemes more accessible.
The Bwa Lansan association also shared its experience, illustrating how the gradual mastery of programs can transform the scope of a project and improve cooperation between RUP and PTOM.
Caribbean dynamics: where Martinique and Curaçao meet
Discussions then turned to the place of Martinique and Curaçao in regional forums such as the Caribbean Forum of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (CARIFORUM) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
The Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and CARIFORUM opens up a wide range of prospects: youth mobility, educational programs, economic or environmental projects – these are just some of the areas in which the OR and OCT territories can find common ground.
Martinique and Curaçao are observers to CARICOM. They can attend meetings and take part in discussions, but do not enjoy full prerogatives. In the case of Martinique, this position has yet to be ratified by France, a prerequisite for full operational status. The discussions highlighted the importance of better understanding these mechanisms, so that Martinique’s local authorities can assess what these regional spaces can really do for them.
A day of sincere exchanges and shared questions
When the participants took the floor, their presentations revealed a mosaic of backgrounds: local authority officials, tourism players, association leaders, international mobility professionals. All shared the same desire: to forge stronger links between Caribbean territories, despite administrative borders, different languages and divergent statuses.
Several participants raised specific questions, while others shared their own experiences. The exchanges were characterized by frankness, lucidity and a shared desire to understand how to move forward together in concrete ways.
This collective dynamic has given substance to the idea that regional cooperation is not just an institutional principle: it is built on the voices, expectations, needs and ambitions of each individual, and on the subtle articulation of the realities of the RUP and PTOM.
A common trajectory to be written between Europe and the Caribbean
As the meeting drew to a close, a clear feeling emerged: Martinique and Curaçao possess fertile ground for developing joint projects. Mobility, education, ecology, local economy, innovation, culture… the possibilities are numerous, provided that the territories can mobilize European and regional tools in a coherent way, as encouraged by the RUP and PTOM.
The discussions on November 19 have opened up a path. A path where collaborations become possible, where European frameworks are read more clearly, and where Caribbean territories find spaces to meet differently.
That day, cooperation took shape in the voices present, but also in the desire to extend these exchanges beyond this meeting, to build a lasting relationship, adapted to the realities of the Caribbean and the ambitions of each territory – a valuable dynamic in all RUP and PTOM relations.
FAQ - RUP and PTOM in the Caribbean region
The outermost regions (RUP) are fully integrated into the European Union, and apply European law, with some adaptations to reflect their insularity. The Overseas Countries and Territories (PTOM), on the other hand, are not integrated into the European territory, but benefit from a preferential status enabling enhanced cooperation, particularly in the economic and educational fields.
Martinique, as an RUP, and Curaçao, as an PTOM, share common challenges: youth mobility, ecological transition, local economy, education and innovation. Their cooperation makes it possible to use European and Caribbean tools in a complementary way, opening up hitherto little-exploited regional perspectives.
European schemes – mobility, training, partnerships, regional programs – offer RUP and PTOM concrete opportunities for collaboration. The toolbox developed with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OCDE) helps territorial players to make better use of these programs.
COP30 is being held in Belém, in the Brazilian state of Pará, from November 10 to 21, 2025. This 30ᵉ United Nations Climate Change Conference is taking place for the first time in the heart of the Amazon, symbol of an ecosystem vital to the planet. Through this COP30, the world’s leaders are embarking on a decisive negotiation, that of the real implementation of the commitments made since the Paris Agreement. For the countries of the Caribbean, which are directly exposed to the effects of global warming, this edition offers concrete hope: to obtain fairer recognition of their needs and sustainable funding for climate adaptation.
An opening focused on Amazonia and climate justice
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva opened COP30 by stressing the shared responsibility of nations and the need for immediate action. “We’re moving in the right direction, but at the wrong speed”, he told the delegations gathered in Brazil. This message resounds like a global warning.
Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the Climate Convention, reminded us that every delay has a cost, in human lives and economic losses. Holding the conference in Brazil, in the heart of a territory that is home to 60% of the Amazon rainforest, underlines the symbolic and ecological dimension of this edition. COP30 aims to put biodiversity, indigenous peoples and South-South cooperation back at the heart of international decision-making.
The first sessions demonstrated a new dynamic: the rapid adoption of the agenda and the determination to translate promises into concrete action, particularly in the fields of energy, transparency and financing.
An ambitious program of transition and governance
COP30 is organized around four priorities: emissions reduction, adaptation, financing and climate governance. By hosting the conference in Belém, Brazil aims to embody the transition to an economic model based on the preservation of nature.
The “Capacity-Building Hub”, one of the highlights of the conference, focuses on strengthening local skills. Sessions cover sustainable financing, energy transition, nature-based solutions and the role of cultural heritage in building resilience.
The United Nations reiterates that limiting the temperature rise to 1.5°C remains an imperative, not a theoretical objective. COP30 must therefore validate concrete monitoring and transparency mechanisms capable of ensuring the credibility of national commitments.
The Caribbean, a united voice for survival
For the Caribbean, COP30 is a vital forum. Island states are calling for immediate responses to rising sea levels and intensifying hurricanes. The Caribbean Development Bank pointed out that “the region has never been so exposed or so determined to defend its climatic survival”.
The Caribbean delegations are calling for direct access to international funds, without debt conditions. They call for the pledges of $1,300 billion annually by 2035 to be honored and distributed equitably.
In the parallel areas of Belém, several adaptation projects are presented: coastal restoration in Dominica, sustainable water management in Saint Lucia, community reforestation in Haiti. These initiatives demonstrate that the region is already taking action, but lacks financial support commensurate with the challenges.
Persistent differences between North and South
COP30 discussions reveal structural tensions between industrialized countries and vulnerable states. The debate on climate finance crystallizes the disagreements. Northern nations recognize the need to increase their contribution, but without specifying transfer modalities or access criteria.
The “Together4Transparency” initiative seeks to establish a universal framework for monitoring commitments, guaranteeing public and comparable data. For small island states, this transparency will highlight their efforts, which are often invisible in global balance sheets.
Delegations from tropical territories insist on a simple equation: without fair financing, adaptation is impossible. Negotiators must therefore decide between rhetoric and responsibility, between financial commitments and real climate justice.
Belém, symbol of renewed climate governance
The city of Belém embodies the contradictions of today’s world: ecological vulnerability, collective hopes and logistical constraints. Despite the organizational challenges, this COP30 is seeing record mobilization from civil society and local communities.
Brazil, as host country, asserts its role as mediator between major emitters and vulnerable nations. The Amazon thus becomes a global mirror: preserving its forests means protecting threatened islands, deltas and coastlines.
The indigenous peoples of the Amazon and representatives from the Caribbean share a common demand: to be heard, to participate in decision-making and to benefit from the resources needed to protect their territories.
A decisive COP30 for the Caribbean and the world
As negotiations continue, COP30 is shaping up to be a moment of truth. The Caribbean hopes to see its priorities enshrined in the final text: equitable financing, institutional inclusion and recognition of the role of tropical territories in climate regulation.
The Belém edition could mark the beginning of a profound change, where small island nations cease to be spectators and become partners in balanced global governance.
COP30, more than a summit, acts as a compass for the decades to come. If the decisions taken in Belém are translated into concrete action, they could transform the future of the Caribbean and the entire tropical world, united by the same urgency: survival in a rapidly changing climate.
The OECS continues its regional modernization with a landmark initiative in Saint Lucia: the commissioning of automated kiosks at the country’s two main airports. A decisive step towards smoother, more technological and more secure border management in the Caribbean.
A forward-looking regional project
The OECS Commission (Organization of Eastern Caribbean States) has handed over ten self-service kiosks to Saint Lucia: eight at Hewanorra International Airport (HIA) and two at George F. L. Charles International Airport. This state-of-the-art equipment enables travellers to complete entry formalities themselves, reducing waiting times and congestion in arrival halls.
This operation is part of the OECS Border Management Improvement Program, financed by the European Union through the Regional Integration Through Growth Harmonisation and Technology (RIGHT) program. This partnership illustrates the regional organization’s determination to strengthen cooperation between its member states, while relying on technology as a lever for efficiency and security.
Automated kiosks for a better passenger experience
With this installation, Saint Lucia becomes a concrete example of digital transformation at the service of tourism. The new automated kiosks scan passports, capture fingerprints and speed up data verification, while maintaining a high level of security.
The aim is twofold: to facilitate travel for the region’s nationals, particularly those from CARICOM and the OECS, and to strengthen the country’s ability to identify and filter high-risk passengers. This intelligent approach illustrates the balance the region is seeking to strike between opening up tourism and tightening controls.
Strong words from Caribbean leadership
At the official handover ceremony at Hewanorra International Airport, OECS Director General Dr Didacus Jules emphasized the strategic significance of this development:
“As global tourism becomes more competitive, travelers are looking not only for beautiful destinations, but also for an efficient, seamless and secure entry experience.”
Dr Didacus Jules emphasized that modernizing ports of entry is an essential pillar for supporting the economic growth of member states and reinforcing the international perception of an organized, technological and welcoming Caribbean.
For his part, Saint Lucia’s Minister of the Interior, Crime Prevention and Persons with Disabilities, Hon. Jeremiah Norbert, praised the investment:
“To maintain the global competitiveness of our tourism sector and meet security challenges, efficient border management systems are essential. They must deny entry to at-risk passengers while offering smooth passage to legitimate travelers.”
These declarations reflect a shared vision: to make the OECS area a model of harmonized regional management, where technological innovation is integrated with the imperatives of sovereignty and mobility.
A regional program already underway
The handover of ten kiosks in Saint Lucia comes just a few months after a similar initiative in Grenada, where six kiosks were delivered in March 2025. Eventually, the OECS Commission aims to equip all member states: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Montserrat, as well as associated territories such as Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands.
Beyond infrastructure, the aim is to establish a framework for cooperation and data sharing to harmonize entry procedures, strengthen traceability and ensure better coordination between immigration services.
The initiative is thus aligned with the OECS’ regional priorities, which aim to accelerate digital transformation, boost sustainable tourism and improve regional connectivity. Technology becomes a strategic tool to accompany the mobility of Caribbean citizens while supporting economic competitiveness.
Saint Lucia, showcase of a new Caribbean era
For Saint Lucia, this partnership with the OECS and the European Union symbolizes a major step forward. The island is reinforcing its image as a modern, welcoming destination, with infrastructures that meet international standards. The automation of entry points is set to reduce waiting times, improve visitor satisfaction and optimize the management of tourist flows – a crucial issue for a country where tourism accounts for over 60% of GDP.
But beyond the immediate gain, this initiative reflects the political will to place Saint Lucia on a regional trajectory of digital integration. By relying on the structure and coordination of the OECS, the island benefits from a common framework of expertise, financing and training, while contributing to the construction of an interconnected Eastern Caribbean.
Towards intelligent regional connectivity
OECS is demonstrating its ability to combine vision, financing and execution in projects with a tangible impact. The installation of these terminals is more than just a technological gesture: it symbolizes the growing power of a region that is modernizing its infrastructure, reinforcing safety and making mobility more fluid.
At a time when competition between tourist destinations is intensifying, this modernization positions the Eastern Caribbean in a strategic niche: that of an integrated, safe and technologically advanced area.
By uniting its members around tangible initiatives, the OECS is once again asserting its role as a regional driving force, in the service of a more efficient, more connected and resolutely forward-looking Caribbean.
The Caribbean is facing growing environmental pressure from the massive arrival of sargassum: brown seaweed that washes up on the coast in large numbers, weakening coastal ecosystems and affecting fishing, tourism, public health and the daily lives of island communities. It is against this backdrop that the SARSEA – Sargassum Regional Strategies for Ecosystem-based Actions project was officially launched on October 28, 2025 in Saint Lucia, marking a turning point for regional management of this challenge.
A structuring framework and committed partners
Financed by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and implemented by Expertise France in partnership with the Commission of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), the SARSEA project offers the states concerned a framework for cooperation, knowledge and action.
The SARSEA project will focus on a number of key areas:
- – Strengthen regional cooperation on Sargasso planning and management, to improve political coordination and international visibility of the phenomenon.
- – Support small island states – notably Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – in implementing integrated sargassum management and recovery initiatives, adopting a circular and sustainable approach.
- – Support regional scientific cooperation to better understand the phenomenon, anticipate its effects and guide management strategies.
- – Integrate the gender approach into all Sargasso-related policies and actions, to ensure an inclusive and equitable response.
The launch: a key moment for dialogue
The opening ceremony in Saint Lucia was attended by governmental, institutional and scientific representatives from all over the Eastern Caribbean. Among them were the French Ambassador to the Eastern Caribbean, Barbados and the OECS, Marie-Noëlle Duris, and the French Ambassador for regional cooperation in the Atlantic zone, Arnaud Mentré.
Dominica stressed the need for a coordinated, multi-level approach to Sargassum management, citing the role that each island can play in a value chain adapted to its capabilities. Saint Lucia reaffirmed its commitment to playing an active part in this collective response. Grenada, for its part, put forward several priorities: the creation of a regional testing center, the implementation of a grounding monitoring system, a harmonized collection mechanism and a strengthening of sanitary monitoring.
During the event, a partnership protocol was signed between Expertise France and the OECS Commission, reinforcing the institutional framework for regional action. Round tables addressed the national visions of partner countries, followed by the challenges and opportunities of regional cooperation in Sargasso management. The afternoon was devoted to a presentation of the project strategy and a coordination meeting of partners. The following day, participants took part in a collective scientific workshop led by the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement.
Towards a shared Caribbean strategy
The SARSEA project aims to consolidate a network of public, private and scientific players in the region, with a view to pooling skills, data and best practices. The objective of the SARSEA project is clear: to improve preparedness and response to Sargasso groundings, while strengthening the resilience of coastal territories.
Under the SARSEA project, although four states will benefit directly from the project, all twelve OECS member states will be able to take advantage of the lessons, tools and best practices that emerge. This reinforces the regional and inclusive dimension of the action.
Why is this project so important?
Massive sargassum groundings in the Caribbean are not an isolated phenomenon: they disrupt coastlines on a daily basis, affect people’s health (toxic gas emissions during decomposition, respiratory problems), weaken marine ecosystems (seagrass beds, corals, mangroves) and threaten key economic sectors such as fishing and tourism.
In this context, fragmented or national management alone is no longer enough. The phenomenon crosses borders, currents and ecosystems. The SARSEA project proposes a coordinated, sub-regional response based on robust science.
Future milestones
- – Structuring integrated value chains around sargassum: from collection to valorization (possibly into bioproducts, fertilizers, etc.).
- – Set up harmonized monitoring systems for strandings, collection and sanitary analysis.
- – Deployment of concerted scientific actions to fill knowledge gaps and guide better-adapted public policies.
- – Promoting women’s participation and gender mainstreaming in all phases of action.
- Dissemination of project feedback, tools and best practices to all OECS member states.
The launch of the SARSEA project marks an essential step in the regional mobilization against the impact of sargassum in the Eastern Caribbean. By combining political, scientific, technical and inclusive cooperation, the island states now have a structured framework for tackling this complex phenomenon. The SARSEA project does not replace national or local work: it amplifies and structures it, giving it scope and resources. With this new impetus, the prospect of concerted, better-informed and sustainable management of sargassum is taking shape in the region.
The Caribbean Connect project marks a decisive step forward for Guadeloupe, Martinique and Puerto Rico. Officially presented on October 15 at the Canal Média building in Baie-Mahault, this new ultra-high-speed submarine infrastructure, supported by the CANAL+ Group, aims to strengthen the connectivity of the Antilles-Guyane territories and secure their place in the great global digital network.
An urgent need for modernization
Behind this technical name, this project responds to an essential challenge: connecting to the world.
Until now, Guadeloupe and Martinique have depended on an aging submarine cable, which has become inadequate to cope with the rapid growth in demand for connectivity – an increase of over 40% per year.
For Aymé Makuta Mbumba, Managing Director of CANAL+ Télécom, this development had become essential:
“Today, the Internet depends on two things: terrestrial infrastructures and the link with the global Internet. Caribbean Connect is the undersea railroad that links our territories to the rest of the global network.”
With a capacity of 300 Gb/s, it will multiply speeds, reduce latency and ensure a stable, fluid connection for individuals, businesses and public authorities. This cable symbolizes our determination to anchor territories in a sustainable, high-performance digital continuity.
European funding for local development
This project is 70% co-financed by the European Union as part of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF Digital) program, for a total investment of almost 6 million euros.
Present at the conference, Yves Dareau, Secretary General for Regional Affairs, hailed “an emblematic and concrete project, supported by a Europe that connects and invests in the future of its overseas territories”.
This cooperation between public institutions and private players illustrates Europe’s determination to strengthen the digital resilience of its outermost regions.
For her part, Alice Bourrouet, representative of the European executive agency HaDEA, emphasized:
“Financing Caribbean Connect means investing in local communities, their inhabitants and their capacity to innovate.
An exemplary partnership between Europe and the French West Indies and French Guiana
The Guadeloupe Region, represented by Aurélie Bitufwila, President of the Digital Commission, played a key role in bringing the project to fruition. Its presence at the conference testifies to the strong support of local institutions for this strategic infrastructure.
Caribbean Connect is not just a technological project: it embodies successful cooperation between Europe and the French overseas territories, in the service of inclusion and digital sovereignty.
CANAL+ Antilles-Guyane: connect, create, transmit
The presentation continued with Sébastien Punturello, new General Manager of CANAL+ Antilles-Guyane, who placed Caribbean Connect within the group’s global vision:
“This cable is essential infrastructure, but it’s also a symbol: that of a group that believes in the power of links – those of connectivity as well as those of cultural development.”
At the same time, the group continues to accelerate the rollout of fiber optics, already accessible to 80% of Guadeloupe households, and supports more than twenty local productions each year (Zion, Wish, Toutoune…).
In this way, it is part of a broader approach to transmission, access to culture and regional innovation, serving social cohesion as much as technological progress.
A lever for the regional digital economy
Caribbean Connect is scheduled to go live progressively in 2025, followed by the arrival of new services from 2026: local hosting, datacenters and regional interconnections.
This infrastructure marks a strategic turning point for the Antilles-Guyane digital economy. By guaranteeing a fast, stable and sovereign connection, it opens up new opportunities for local businesses in the fields of tech, education, health and e-commerce.
Caribbean Connect represents a major technological advance, but also an act of sovereignty. By enabling overseas territories to retain control over their infrastructures, it paves the way for long-awaited digital autonomy in the region.
A symbol of unity and the future
Caribbean Connect connects communities, economies and shared ambitions.
Its launch illustrates our collective determination to build a future where distance is no longer an obstacle, but a driving force for unity and shared development.
By consolidating the position of the French West Indies and French Guiana in the global digital ecosystem, Caribbean Connect proves that connectivity is not just a matter of cables: it’s a shared desire to build the future together, between the islands and the world.
Together for a radiant Caribbean, the Alliances Françaises become bridges between cultures, languages and territories.
At the RÉZO seminar in Grenada, the directors and presidents of the Alliances Françaises of the English-speaking Caribbean met to strengthen cultural and linguistic cooperation in the region and define new common directions.
Supported by the French Embassy’s Service de Coopération et d’Action Culturelle (SCAC), which also took part in some of the discussions, the seminar was an opportunity to strengthen synergies between the Alliances Françaises network and consolidate dialogue with the SCAC, in a spirit of listening and collaboration.
Between exchanges, common strategies and innovative projects, this meeting outlined the contours of a more open, inclusive and modern French-speaking and multilingual Caribbean.
A key moment for an evolving network, serving a Caribbean that learns, shares and shines.
A meeting with a family flavour
Sometimes they’ve known each other for years, sometimes only through a screen. But from the very first minutes, the laughter, hugs and warmth of the reunion remind us that, in the Caribbean, the Alliances Françaises network is above all a human adventure.
Over the course of three days, directors and presidents shared their experiences from country to country – from day-to-day challenges to local pride and a shared determination to build a stronger, more united and more visible network. In the room, diversity was evident in the accents, the backgrounds and the ideas. From Jamaica to Trinidad and Tobago, each voice brought its own nuance, its own experience, its own way of bringing culture and the French-speaking world to the heart of the territories.
Welcomed by Ilona Fort-Gilbert, Director, and Suelin Low Chew Tung, President of the Alliance Française of Grenada, participants spent several days exchanging ideas and reflections in an atmosphere that was both productive and warm.
Around the table, the directors: Aurélie Gbeffa (Saint Lucia and regional coordinator of the Alliances Françaises of the Eastern Caribbean), Océane Gaillard (Barbados), Virginie Lemay (Suriname), Lucille Caulliez (Saint Christophe-et-Niévès), Cévinne M’Voula (Dominique), Anyka Batista (Trinidad and Tobago), Ilona Forte-Gilbert (Grenada), Déborah First-Quao (Guyana) and Clovis Lemée ( Jamaica), as well as Christiane Bourgeois (CORCAC – Saint Lucia) and Suelin Low Chew Tung (President – Grenada).
Joining them by videoconference were the presidents: Charlene White-Christian (Dominica), Ruben Del Prado (Suriname), Danielle Parkinson (Trinidad and Tobago), Kara Daly (Saint Kitts and Nevis), Delphine Hadley and her successor Denvil Douglas (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), and Stuart Defreitas, vice-president (Guyana).
During the discussions, Christiane Bourgeois, Regional Counsellor for Cooperation and Cultural Action (Conseiller Régionale de Coopération et d’Action Culturelle – CORCAC), Head of the Cultural and Cooperation Department (Service de Coopération et d’Action Culturelle – SCAC) of the French Embassy to the Eastern Caribbean, Barbados and the OECS, underlined the essential role of the Alliances Françaises in promoting French and Caribbean culture.
The Regional Counsellor for Cooperation and Cultural Action – CORCAC structures its action around cultural, educational, scientific and economic cooperation, seeking to link French priorities – culture, the French-speaking world, sustainability and human rights – to the specific needs of the countries of the English-speaking Caribbean. We believe that it’s not just the structures, but also the committed men and women on the ground who bring this open, supportive and creative French-speaking community to life.
“The Alliances Françaises are essential partners.”
The presence of Jean-François Hans, Geographical Delegate for Zone C at the Fondation des Alliances Françaises, reminded us from Paris of the importance of the network’s global cohesion.
Charter of values, governance tools, visual identity and support for local teams: the Foundation ensures that quality and ethics are shared across all five continents.
“A large Alliance must always reach out to a smaller one. That’s our collective DNA.”
This solidarity, the driving force behind the movement, takes on its full meaning in the Caribbean, where logistical and human challenges combine with cultural and linguistic richness.
A global Francophonie rooted in local realities
Founded in 1883, the Alliances Françaises network is now the world’s largest cultural network, with over 820 establishments in 135 countries.
In the English-speaking Caribbean, ten Alliances promote the French language and culture: Barbados, Saint Lucia, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Guyana, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname.
In 2024, they welcomed over 1,000 learners, delivered 9,000 hours of courses and organized 160 cultural events, bringing together over 7,000 participants.
These figures reflect a living, dynamic reality: the Caribbean Francophonie is not just an idea, it’s a daily presence in classrooms, galleries, festivals and the streets of island capitals. Francophonie thrives on exchanges, local initiatives, and the passion of those who keep the French language alive.
A network in motion: between vision and action
Projet Rézo
Driven by a shared desire to see the network evolve, the RÉZO project is a real driving force for the Alliances Françaises of the English-speaking Caribbean, and a way of thinking about the network differently: more collaborative, more agile, more visible.
Supported by the French Embassy’s Service de Coopération et d’Action Culturelle (SCAC), it aims to strengthen regional coordination, pool tools and professionalize teams. Over the course of the sessions, discussions highlighted a shared ambition: to harmonize practices, encourage pedagogical innovation and strengthen skills, while consolidating the place of the French-speaking world in plural linguistic environments.
Under the coordination of Aurélie Gbeffa, six areas of work were addressed:
- – Associative governance and transparency: strengthening internal management and communication with members.
- – Team training: consolidating skills and promoting regional mobility.
- – Certifications and educational quality: aligning training and evaluation standards across the network.
- – Digital transition: developing collaborative tools and shared digital resources.
- – Setting up RÉZO projects: creating and leading joint projects between Alliances.
- – Revitalizing media libraries: modernizing cultural spaces to better reflect today’s audiences and practices.
Each Alliance leaves with a personalized roadmap, proof of a shared commitment and a strong regional dynamic.
Micro-projects
In the same vein, the SCAC has reiterated its key role in supporting and facilitating micro-projects. These subsidies, allocated each year to local project leaders, are a concrete lever for the implementation of cultural, educational and civic initiatives throughout the region.
A virtuous mechanism that supports local creativity, while promoting training and autonomy for local players. Beyond the financial aspect, this initiative, a signature of the French Ambassy of Saint Lucia, reflects a form of close, human-centered diplomacy that fosters exchange and cooperation between Francophone and Anglophone territories.
From Saint Lucia to Dominica, from Trinidad and Tobago to Grenada, the micro-projects supported reflect the diversity of shared challenges: culture, education, the environment, inclusion and innovation. These are just some of the areas in which the Alliances Françaises, supported by the SCAC, are building bridges between societies and driving sustainable cooperation in the Caribbean.
CARIFRAN
This strategy is also part of the regional dynamic of the CARIFRAN program, dedicated to the training and mobility of teachers of French in the Caribbean.
Implemented by the Organization of American States and funded by the French Embassy to the Eastern Caribbean, Barbados and the OECS to the tune of 453,000 euros, CARIFRAN is helping to strengthen a French-speaking educational community open to inter-island exchanges and linguistic cooperation. It embodies the complementary nature of the network’s educational, cultural and diplomatic activities.
The strength of a fragile network
Over and above the discussions, workshops and decisions, the RÉZO seminar confirmed the vitality of a network in the throes of transformation. But it also served as a reminder of the fragility of an associative model that relies on commitment, passion and solidarity more than on substantial resources.
In the English-speaking Caribbean, as elsewhere, the Alliances Françaises carry out their activities with modest means but remarkable efficiency, and with a real desire to move forward together, thanks to the strength of their teams, their volunteer presidents and the constant support of the SCAC and the Fondation des Alliances Françaises.
It’s this collective humanity, built on resilience and conviction, that makes the network unique: the ability to forge links, invent and reinvent ourselves, even in the face of uncertainty. And while cultural and linguistic cooperation can sometimes be a challenge, it is also a promise: that of a plural Caribbean, connected, proud of its diversity and capable of writing its future through dialogue between cultures.
Cooperation between CARICOM member states has taken on a new dimension since 1ᵉʳ October 2025. Barbados, Belize, Dominica and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines have officially lifted barriers to the movement of their citizens. These four nations have launched an unprecedented agreement that allows their nationals to live, work and settle freely within this Caribbean space without work permits. A strong signal for the construction of a more united and supportive region.
A founding agreement for free regional mobility
Launched under the name “Enhanced Cooperation in Free Movement”, this commitment was ratified by heads of government at the 49ᵉ CARICOM summit in Montego Bay. For the first time, Caribbean countries are fully applying the principles of free movement already outlined in the Treaty of Chaguaramas.
Thanks to this agreement, nationals of Barbados, Belize, Dominica and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines can enter, leave, work and reside in the partner countries without a CSME certificate or special permit. They also enjoy limited but effective access to essential public services, including basic health care and primary or secondary education.
This cooperation between CARICOM member states is the first step in a wider project to unify the region in human and economic terms.
Strategic leverage for four complementary economies
- – For Barbados, the challenge is clear: to cope with an aging population and a shortage of manpower. Bridgetown hopes to attract young workers from neighboring countries to support the key sectors of tourism, services and healthcare.
- – Belize, whose territory is sixty times larger than that of most Caribbean islands, is keen to encourage the settlement of its rural areas and boost its development. With a population of just 400,000 over 22,000 km², the country sees this cooperation between CARICOM member states as an opportunity to attract talent and boost productivity.
- – Dominica and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, for their part, are focusing on cultural and historical links. In Kingstown, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves pointed out that this initiative also has an identity dimension:
“Our Garifuna brothers and sisters in Belize can come and spend more time here, work if they wish, and our citizens are now free to go there.”
A shared history, the foundation of integration
This cooperation between CARICOM member states is based on a common historical foundation. The four nations share a British colonial experience, a close linguistic heritage and a similar institutional structure. These affinities have facilitated the implementation of a mobility scheme unprecedented in the region.
A common verification mechanism has been set up to filter applications. The authorities retain the right to refuse entry to any individual representing a risk to public order or a financial burden for the host state. This clause aims to preserve the balance between openness and responsibility.
A laboratory for regional integration
The leaders consider this cooperation between CARICOM member states to be a pilot project. If the results are conclusive, it could be extended to other member countries as early as 2026. Discussions are already underway with Jamaica, Saint Lucia and Trinidad & Tobago to join the initiative.
According to regional economists, this cooperation between CARICOM member states represents a major opportunity to facilitate the exchange of skills and strengthen local value chains. By removing administrative constraints, it encourages professional mobility, entrepreneurship and the networking of Caribbean talent.
Sustainable social and human benefits
Beyond the figures, the human impact of this agreement is considerable. Thousands of families can now look forward to a future beyond their national borders. Access to employment, training and basic healthcare paves the way for real integration of Caribbean societies.
This cooperation between CARICOM member states also gives new meaning to the Community’s original project: to build a region of solidarity where citizens share the same fundamental rights. It embodies a new generation of regional policies based on trust and reciprocity.
Towards a united and inclusive Caribbean
The entry into force of this measure confirms the region’s determination to write a new page in its history. Cooperation between CARICOM member states goes beyond economic considerations: it symbolizes the political will to unite peoples and strengthen social stability.
By opening their borders to each other, Barbados, Belize, Dominica and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines are demonstrating that another Caribbean is possible: a Caribbean that is mobile, connected and aware of its common destiny.
The Caribbean Japan Partnership has reached a new milestone with the organization of the first Caribbean Regional Dialogue, held on August 21 and 22, 2025 in Saint Lucia. Hosted at the Bay Gardens Hotel and orchestrated by the Commission of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) in collaboration with Japan’s Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF), the event brought together governments, regional organizations, the private sector, academia, civil society and youth representatives from across the CARICOM region. For two days, discussions centered on a central theme: “Advancing Resilient Prosperity in the Caribbean”.
A shared ambition: transforming resilience into a driver of prosperity
In his opening address, the Hon. Wayne Girard Minister in the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Youth Economy of Saint Lucia, emphasized that resilience is more than just the ability to bounce back from crises. It must be conceived as a commitment to sustainability, inclusion and innovation. For him, this Dialogue is both a wake-up call and a platform for cooperation to redefine the trajectory of the Caribbean.
The Caribbean Japan Partnership is part of this transformation process. Dr Didacus Jules, OECS Director General, invited the region to rethink its global narrative. In his view, the Caribbean needs to present itself not as a vulnerable territory, but as one of the world’s most dynamic regions. These include renewable energies, the blue economy, community tourism and the transformation of food systems.
Five strategic pillars for sustainable development
The discussions were structured around five major pillars :
- Blue economy : Sustainable use of marine resources and development of value chains.
- Community-based tourism : Community-based tourism: involving local populations in a more equitable form of tourism.
- Agriculture and food security : Strengthening food sovereignty on the islands.
- Economic and commercial development : Diversification and integration into the global economy.
- Climate and disaster risk reduction: building infrastructures and policies adapted to island realities.
Through the Caribbean Japan Partnership, these pillars are reinforced by cross-cutting themes: the importance of data, gender mainstreaming, youth participation, the central role of civil society and the commitment of the private sector.
Concrete initiatives proposed by OECS
Dr Didacus Jules proposed several operational tools to transform discussions into tangible results:
- ✅ A Caribbean Island Systems Management Pact : to harmonize policies and improve regional resilience.
- ✅ A Blue Value Chain Accelerator : designed to maximize the economic benefits of marine resources.
- ✅ A toolbox for climate-resilient financing : A toolbox for climate-resilient financing, to direct financial flows towards sustainable projects adapted to local realities.
The Caribbean Japan Partnership is therefore intended as a lever to translate the Antigua and Barbuda’s Agenda for SIDS into concrete, measurable solutions.
Closer cooperation with Japan
The Caribbean Japan Partnership is more than just a diplomatic exercise. It prepares the region for greater visibility on the world stage. Indeed, the Castries Dialogue served as a prelude to the Interregional Dialogue and World Island Summit scheduled for 2026 in Tokyo. These gatherings will bring together the island nations of the Caribbean, Pacific and Indian Oceans to tackle common challenges and seize shared opportunities.
The Professor Mitsutaku Makino, President of the Ocean Policy Research Institute (OPRI-SPF), said the discussions represented an important first step in building solid international cooperation. In his view, the Caribbean Japan Partnership is an opportunity to advance collective solutions to the climate and economic challenges facing small island nations.
On his side, Hideyuki Shiozawa, Director of Island Nations at OPRI-SPF, stressed the need to bridge the gap between international policies and the realities experienced by local populations. For him, fostering dialogue and providing data to decision-makers is the key to building momentum towards the World Synergy Conference and the Tokyo Summit.
The Caribbean: from a catalog of vulnerabilities to a portfolio of solutions
Throughout the debates, a strong message emerged: no Caribbean country can tackle global challenges alone. Common threats – rising sea levels, dwindling fish stocks, inequalities in global financial systems – call for collective responses and bold innovation.
In conclusion, the participants affirmed their desire to present the Caribbean as a portfolio of solutions. Dr Didacus Jules summed up this ambition by saying:
“This isn’t just a meeting; it’s an important step towards enhanced cooperation, stronger systems and a shared Caribbean vision of peace, resilience and prosperity.”
This objective is at the heart of the Caribbean Japan Partnership which aims to go beyond mere diplomacy to become a concrete tool for development and resilience.
A step into the future
The Caribbean Japan Partnership opens up new prospects for small island nations. The challenge now is to turn promises into measurable actions, and to make the Caribbean voice heard in major international debates. In the run-up to the World Island Summit in Tokyo in 2026, the Caribbean is presenting itself not as a fragile periphery, but as a strategic player with global solutions for a sustainable future.
A historic meeting in Addis Ababa
CARICOM-Africa 2025 Summit was held on September 7 at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, marking a new phase in the rapprochement between the Caribbean and the African continent. Described as a “return to basics” by CARICOM Secretary General Dr. Carla Barnett, the meeting symbolized a shared determination to overcome the divisions inherited from history and strengthen fraternal ties.
Beyond the declarations, this second summit gave concrete expression to commitments ranging from health development and economic cooperation to demands for restorative justice.
Shared heritage and common memory
In his opening address, Dr Barnett reminded us of the importance of this event: “Our peoples have been separated for centuries by the ocean, the colonial system and an unjust world economic order. Yet we remain linked by an indestructible spirit and a common heritage.”
CARICOM-Africa 2025 Summit is part of this collective memory, marked by deportations, slavery and the struggle for emancipation. The Caribbean and African leaders stressed that the African diaspora in the Americas and the Caribbean is a force that must now unite to defend its interests and prepare a common future.
Concrete progress since 2021
This second event follows on from the first 2021 summit, which was held virtually. Since then, several initiatives have been launched. The Memorandum of Understanding between CARICOM and the African Union has established a solid institutional framework. The launch of the Partnership for Health Development in Africa and the Caribbean (HeDPAC) illustrates this dynamic, with an action plan focused on strengthening medical capabilities.
CARICOM-Africa 2025 Summit also highlighted the growing cooperation with Afreximbank, whose Caribbean headquarters have been set up in Barbados. The organization of the Afro-Caribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF)
An ambition focused on restorative justice
One of the main focuses of the CARICOM-Africa 2025 Summit was the issue of reparations. The theme chosen – “A transcontinental partnership in search of restorative justice for Africans and African descendants” – reinforced the legitimacy of this struggle.
The participants recalled that slavery and colonization have profoundly marked the societies of both regions. The CARICOM Reparations Commission, which has been active for over a decade, was highlighted as the spearhead of this mobilization.
Economic and climate issues
CARICOM-Africa 2025 Summit also stressed the need to reform the global financial architecture, in line with the Bridgetown Initiative. The leaders denounced the persistent inequalities of a system that weighs heavily on the countries of the South.
Another key issue is climate change. Although responsible for only 6% of global emissions, African and Caribbean states are bearing the full brunt of its effects. Discussions therefore focused on coordinated responses to protect the most vulnerable populations.
Towards a unified voice on the international stage
Air connectivity was also discussed. A multilateral agreement on air services is in the pipeline, while bilateral initiatives, such as the joint venture between Antigua & Barbuda and Nigeria to relaunch LIAT 2020, aim to boost human and commercial exchanges.
The heads of state and government present stressed the importance of a common voice. Together, Africa and the Caribbean account for a fifth of the world’s population. CARICOM-Africa 2025 Summit called for a coordinated strategy to influence international debates, from UN Security Council reforms to global economic governance and climate negotiations.
This desire for unity is underpinned by a strong Pan-African heritage, inspired by historical figures such as Marcus Garvey, Patrice Lumumba and Kwame Nkrumah.
A founding moment for the future
In closing, the leaders emphasized the founding nature of the CARICOM-Africa 2025 Summit. For Terrance Drew, Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis and incoming Chairman of CARICOM, this is a “moment of reunion, memory and affirmation”, when repentance is no longer enough and reparations become a legitimate demand.
Through the CARICOM-Africa 2025 Summit, the two regions intend to transform the injustices of the past into levers of solidarity and cooperation. Their common goal: to build a future based on dignity, justice and shared prosperity.
