The vodou is entering a new phase in its international history. The joint candidacy of Haiti and Benin for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity places centuries of memory, transmission and creation at the heart of a global heritage debate. The deadline set by UNESCO for applications to be examined in 2027, and submitted before March 31, 2026, places this initiative within a precise and structured institutional calendar, but the stakes go far beyond the administrative procedure.
For the Caribbean, and Haiti in particular, this candidacy is no mere cultural formality. It’s about recognizing a living heritage, often misunderstood, sometimes caricatured, but deeply rooted in the country’s social, artistic and spiritual history. Vodou is not a fixed folklore; it is a cultural matrix, a way of organizing the link between generations, communities and the sacred. To place it within an international heritage dynamic is to recognize its complexity, depth and vitality.
A candidacy that redefines the way we look at vodou
The strength of this initiative lies in its ambition to go beyond simplistic representations. Too often confined to spectacular or distorted images, Vodou appears here as a complete cultural system, articulating beliefs, social practices, arts, rituals and modes of transmission. The official documentation associated with the Benin project reminds us that Vodou has its roots in West Africa, and that it spread to territories marked by the transatlantic slave trade. This historical continuity sheds light on the deep bond between Benin and Haiti, not as a diplomatic juxtaposition, but as a shared history.
This repositioning is essential. Registering Vodou as intangible cultural heritage means recognizing that it is not an isolated object, but a body of knowledge, gestures, rhythms and stories transmitted within living communities. Heritage recognition does not freeze tradition; it underlines its capacity to adapt and evolve. It affirms that the value of vodou lies as much in its spiritual dimension as in its social and artistic role.
Haiti, vodou territory in the Caribbean
A structuring presence in Haitian society
In Haiti, vodou permeates the deepest layers of society. It shapes not only rituals, but also forms of sociability, symbolic calendars, relationships with ancestors and ways of interpreting the world. It is not only expressed in ceremonies; it also permeates everyday gestures, family stories and community relations. To understand Vodou in Haiti, we need to look beyond the boundary between religion and culture: it’s a universe of meaning where spirituality, aesthetics and social organization are in constant dialogue.
This reality explains why the candidacy takes on a special dimension for the country. Haiti has more than just a historical legacy; it is a vital part of a heritage that continues to shape contemporary identities and practices. In a context where Haiti’s international image is often dominated by narratives of crisis, highlighting Vodou as a living heritage is part of a more balanced and fairer rewriting of the national narrative.
An artistic and creative matrix
It has long nourished Haitian artistic expression. The percussive rhythms, responsorial songs, codified dances and symbols traced on the ground make up a remarkably rich aesthetic language. The vèvè, symbolic drawings associated with the spirits, bear witness to a graphic sophistication that has influenced generations of artists. Textiles, embroidery and contemporary creations inspired by the vodou imagination illustrate how tradition continues to dialogue with modernity.
This artistic dimension is not secondary; it lies at the heart of the application. It shows that vodou is not just a belief system, but also a creative space where body, voice and matter become vectors of memory and transmission. For readers in the Caribbean, this perspective will help them better understand why it occupies a singular place in the region’s cultural ecosystem.
From the Gulf of Benin to Haiti: transatlantic historical continuity
A history shaped by the Atlantic slave trade
The link between Benin and Haiti is part of the long history of the transatlantic slave trade. Beliefs and practices originating in the ancient kingdoms of the Gulf of Benin region crossed the ocean with enslaved people. When they arrived in the Caribbean, they were transformed, adapted and enriched by contact with other traditions and the colonial context. Haitian vodou is not a simple reproduction; it is the result of a process of cultural re-creation in the face of the violence of uprooting.
Acknowledging this continuity means recognizing the ability of displaced peoples to preserve essential elements of their worldview. The joint candidacy highlights this complex trajectory, where African memory and Caribbean experience come together in a shared heritage.
Cultural diplomacy aimed at recognition
Beyond history, this initiative is part of active cultural diplomacy. Together, Benin and Haiti are asserting the value of a shared heritage, as part of a dynamic of intercultural dialogue. This cooperation underscores the fact that intangible heritage can become an arena for rapprochement and mutual recognition, far removed from the logic of symbolic competition.
The challenges for Haiti: recognition, transmission and international image
A heritage already present on the UNESCO stage
Haiti has recently distinguished itself with the inscription of several cultural elements on UNESCO’s Representative List, including joumou soup in 2021, cassave bread knowledge in 2024 and compas in 2025. This trajectory confirms the country’s determination to promote its living traditions. In this continuity, it appears as a fundamental pillar, whose recognition would reinforce the coherence of this heritage policy.
An opportunity to rebalance representations
International recognition of vodou would have a powerful symbolic impact. It would help to deconstruct sensationalist visions and place the tradition in its historical and social context. For Haiti, the stakes are also educational: offering younger generations a more structured reading of their heritage and encouraging documentation, education and safeguarding programs.
Heritage recognition as a lever for the future
Inscription on the Representative List would not be an end in itself. It would open up a space for reflection on how to preserve a living heritage without freezing it. It would encourage the active participation of communities and strengthen transmission mechanisms. Above all, it would affirm that Vodou fully belongs to the world’s cultural heritage, not as an exotic curiosity, but as a complex system of knowledge and artistic expression.
At the crossroads of Africa and the Caribbean, it tells a story of continuity despite rupture, of creation despite constraint, of memory despite erasure. For Haiti, this candidacy represents a significant step in the recognition of a heritage that continues to structure its cultural identity and international influence.
No. Vodou is the subject of a joint nomination by Haiti and Benin for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The final decision is expected during a forthcoming evaluation cycle by the intergovernmental committee.
In Haiti, vodou is a living heritage that structures collective memory, social practices, artistic expression and intergenerational transmission. It plays a central role in Haitian cultural identity.
Vodou originated in West Africa, particularly in the Gulf of Benin region. Following the transatlantic slave trade, these beliefs and practices were transmitted to the Caribbean, where they were adapted and transformed in Haiti, while retaining common roots.
On Saturday March 14, 2026, the Hotel de l’Assemblée de la CTM in Fort-de-France hosted the 6th edition of the Caribbean Business Cruise (CBC). Organized by Isanaja Consulting in partnership with Martinique Développement this economic morning brought together Caribbean entrepreneurs from Guadeloupe, Saint Lucia and Antigua & Barbuda to work towards a common goal: to turn the Caribbean into a concrete area of economic cooperation.
A business cruise, a pioneering concept in the Caribbean
The Caribbean Business Cruise is no ordinary networking event. Created in 2019 by Isabelle Adelis Flandrina, founder and CEO of Isanaja Consulting, the Caribbean Business Cruise is presented as the first Caribbean business cruise. The concept is to enable business leaders to meet aboard a ship, away from busy schedules, to build real business relationships.
"Together with my husband, we created the first edition of the Caribbean Business Cruise in 2019, which was originally founded to enable business leaders to go on mission with their families."
In six years, Caribbean Business Cruise has evolved to include an increasingly structured economic dimension. Caribbean Business Cruise 6 now boasts a partnership agreement with the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), making Isanaja Consulting one of the few private French companies to hold this partnership, according to its founder. This recognition opens up access to an English- and Spanish-speaking network that Martinique is still struggling to exploit to the full.
Martinique as a host and investment destination
The Caribbean Business Cruise kicked off with a speech by Alexandre Ventadour, territorial councillor at the Martinique Assembly and President of Martinique Développement. His message: Martinique isn’t waiting for investors, it’s getting ready to receive them.
"Our Martinican companies are here to showcase what Martinique can do best."
Yann Yala also of Martinique Développement, gave an economic overview of the region: GDP in excess of €10 billion, with growth of around 1%, per capita GDP of €29,000, a population of 356,000, and a trade balance that is largely in deficit, with a coverage rate of around 20% by 2025. Three sectors have been identified as priority development drivers: tourism (6% of GDP, €600 million in annual sales), renewable energies and the digital economy.
With this diagnosis in mind, the question of export support became central. Martinique Développement focuses on attractiveness and installation support, while the Martinique Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIM) has taken over responsibility for exports, notably via the Caribbean Trade Facilitation Team. Stéphanie Pujar, project manager for Caribbean cooperation at the CCIM, presented this bilingual (French and English) program, which supports companies from Martinique, Guadeloupe and Guyana in their export development.
"International business support is truly a tailor-made service. Every company has its own project, so every company also has services that suit it."
French companies can benefit from grants from the French Ministry for Overseas France covering between 50% and 75% of the cost of international assignments. It’s a little-known lever that’s regularly highlighted at this type of event.
Caribbean entrepreneurs in search of partners
Caribbean Business Cruise 6 gave a dozen companies the opportunity to present themselves in two minutes, before getting down to B2B business. A deliberately tight format to get straight to the point.
Among the English-speaking participants, Celia Samuel representative of Go To Enterprise (Antigua & Barbuda) and board member of the Antigua Chamber of Commerce, was back for the second year running. She distributes wholesale food products: fruits, vegetables, meats, agro-processed products, from producer to end customer, and is looking for manufacturers wishing to export to the English-speaking Caribbean.
"I am passionate about working with other Caribbean islands and other Caribbean companies. Time waits for no man. So if you see an opportunity, jump on it. "
"I'm passionate about working with other Caribbean islands and companies. Time waits for no one. So if you see an opportunity, seize it."
Her testimonial is a concrete illustration of the value of the Caribbean Business Cruise: during the previous edition, she forged a relationship with a producer in Grenada, and is now the exclusive distributor of his brand in Antigua, with prospects for expansion to other islands.
Chantal Alexander, General Manager of Abby’s Exotic Blends (Saint Lucia), was presenting a range of preservative-free agro-processed products based on plantain, breadfruit, sweet potato and green banana, potato chips, confectionery and rum punches, and was looking for distributors or production partners.
On the Guadeloupe side, the sectors represented covered a broad spectrum: cybersecurity with CyberCorsair (Jérémy Benallal) water and renewable energy engineering with Prest’eau Caraïbes (Luigi Apoari), management consulting with Auxiliary Being (Franciane Morvany), software and digital training with ISP Informatique and cultural and tourist development with the association Fout Gwada Bel (Leslie Morvany). Guadeloupe’s Chambre des Métiers de l’Artisanat was also on hand to promote its Artisans Pays de Guadeloupe label and explore synergies with its counterparts in Martinique.
A mindset to build
Isabelle Adelis Flandrina was keen to point out a reality with which the room is familiar: French-speaking and English-speaking entrepreneurs don’t arrive at the same meetings with the same frame of mind.
On the English side, when they go there, they go there to do business. Clearly, if they come to meet you, it's to find out if you can meet their demand."
This difference in entrepreneurial culture runs like a thread through the successive CBCs. This year, the Martinique and Caribbean delegations were more cautious than expected: the founder refers in particular to the Caribbean geopolitical context linked to US policies and its impact on regional business dynamics. A Haitian delegation, initially scheduled, was unable to join the event for logistical reasons.
Despite these absences, the Caribbean Business Cruise 2026 confirmed the usefulness of these regional meetings. The B2B exchanges that followed the presentations, in the Assembly hall, materialized what the CBC seeks to provoke: real connections between players who, geographically close, do not spontaneously cross paths.
Digicel Business a partner of the event, emphasized through the voice of its Administrative and Financial Director René Klock the importance of this type of initiative in strengthening the regional economic fabric around Caribbean VSEs and SMEs.
The 7th edition of the Caribbean Business Cruise is already on the cards, with organizers hoping for a larger Martinique delegation on board.
The Caribbean Business Cruise (CBC) is the first Caribbean business cruise, created in 2019 by Isanaja Consulting. Each year, it brings together business leaders from all over the Caribbean – French, English and Spanish speakers – for B2B exchanges and regional partnership opportunities. The 6th edition was held on March 14, 2026 in Fort-de-France, Martinique.
Martinique boasts a GDP of over 10 billion euros, a largely service-based economy and identified growth sectors: tourism, renewable energies and digital technology. Martinique Développement and the Martinique Chamber of Commerce and Industry offer tailor-made support for setting up and exporting, with grants covering 50-75% of the costs of international missions for French companies.
The 6th edition of the Caribbean Business Cruise in Fort-de-France brought together companies in five sectors: agro-processing (Abby’s Exotic Blends, Saint Lucia), cybersecurity (CyberCorsaire, Guadeloupe), water and environmental engineering (Prest’eau Caraïbes, Guadeloupe), distribution and international trade (Go To Enterprise, Antigua), and business training and support.
The partnership between CTO and The Travel Foundation marks an important step in the evolution of tourism policies in the Caribbean. At the ITB Berlin 2026 international trade fair, the region’s tourism leaders confirmed that they would strengthen their cooperation to support a more sustainable tourism model, more resilient to climate change and more focused on local communities.
In a region where the economy is heavily dependent on tourism, climate change is no longer an abstract issue. The effects of global warming, the intensification of weather phenomena and the erosion of coastal ecosystems now represent immediate challenges for many island territories. It is against this backdrop that the partnership between CTO and The Travel Foundation takes on a strategic dimension. The objective is clear: to transform climate commitments into concrete actions capable of supporting the economic and social future of Caribbean destinations.
ITB Berlin, a strategic venue for the voice of the Caribbean
Every year, ITB Berlin brings together the world’s key tourism players: ministries, international organizations, airlines, destinations and industry experts. For the Caribbean, this event is an essential platform for recalling a reality that is often underestimated on an international scale: small island states are among the territories most exposed to the effects of climate change.
At a session devoted to the gap between climate risks and adaptation solutions in tourism, the Secretary General and CEO of the Caribbean Tourism Organization, Dona Regis-Prosper, highlighted the region’s real-life experience. The devastating hurricanes that regularly hit the Caribbean, rising sea levels and increasing pressure on marine ecosystems have had a profound impact on the territories. Today, this first-hand experience is a driving force for rethinking the region’s tourism strategies. The partnership between CTO and The Travel Foundation is precisely in line with this dynamic of transformation.
Moving from climate talk to concrete solutions
At the heart of the partnership between CTO and The Travel Foundation lies one overriding conviction: climate strategies must now go beyond declarations of intent. Caribbean destinations already have numerous studies, scientific data and prospective scenarios on climate risks. However, a persistent challenge remains: transforming this information into genuinely funded and operational projects.
This is one of the points raised by Narendra Ramgulam, Deputy Director of Sustainable Tourism at the Caribbean Tourism Organization. According to him, the region has no shortage of ideas and analyses, but the concrete implementation of projects is often hampered by a lack of access to funding. In this context, the partnership between CTO and The Travel Foundation aims to bridge the gap between strategic planning and real action on the ground.
A tourism model focused on local communities
One of the major thrusts of the partnership between CTO and The Travel Foundation concerns the role of local populations in tourism development. In many Caribbean destinations, the economic benefits of tourism sometimes remain concentrated in certain segments of the industry. The new cooperation framework aims to foster a more inclusive approach in which tourism projects generate direct benefits for communities.
This vision also implies a strengthening of local skills in sustainable tourism professions, as well as increased support for economic initiatives that enhance the region’s natural and cultural resources. This approach is in line with a global trend in the tourism sector. Today’s travelers are increasingly interested in responsible, authentic experiences that are closely linked to the realities of the areas they visit.
Caribbean tourism faces structural transformation
The partnership between CTO and The Travel Foundation comes at a pivotal time for the Caribbean tourism industry. Several profound transformations are redefining the future of the sector. The intensification of extreme climatic phenomena, the gradual weakening of coral reefs, the erosion of certain beaches and the evolution of travelers’ expectations in terms of sustainability are gradually changing the balance of regional tourism.
These elements are not just about the environment. They directly influence the tourism experience, the competitiveness of destinations and the livelihoods of many local populations. Against this backdrop, strengthening the resilience of Caribbean tourism is becoming as much an economic priority as an environmental one.
International cooperation to strengthen resilience
The renewal of the partnership between CTO and The Travel Foundation formalizes a strengthened collaboration between two organizations committed to the transformation of global tourism. The Travel Foundation has been working for several years on initiatives to make tourist destinations more sustainable, notably through climate planning, tourism flow management and ecosystem protection.
For its part, the Caribbean Tourism Organization represents the tourism interests of many of the region’s territories and plays a central role in coordinating regional policies. By combining their expertise, the two institutions aim to develop tools and strategies that will enable Caribbean destinations to better anticipate climate risks, while maintaining their attractiveness to tourists.
A regional vision for the future of Caribbean tourism
Beyond technical cooperation, the partnership between CTO and The Travel Foundation is also part of a broader vision: that of a coordinated regional approach to sustainable tourism. The Caribbean shares many common realities. The economies of many territories rely heavily on tourism, the islands remain particularly exposed to climatic risks, and the region boasts an exceptional natural and cultural heritage.
In view of these common characteristics, regional cooperation appears to be an essential lever for developing solutions tailored to the specific characteristics of island destinations. This approach is also in line with the ambitions of the CTO Reimagine Plan, a strategy that aims to reposition Caribbean tourism around sustainability, innovation and resilience.
The Caribbean, a global laboratory for sustainable tourism
Through the partnership between CTO and The Travel Foundation, the Caribbean is also seeking to assert its role in international debates on the future of tourism. The challenges facing the region today could foreshadow those that other tourist destinations will have to face in the coming decades. From this perspective, the Caribbean can become a veritable laboratory of innovation for climate-resilient tourism strategies, sustainable management of island destinations and the integration of communities into the tourism economy.
The stakes involved in the partnership between CTO and The Travel Foundation extend far beyond regional borders. The solutions developed in the Caribbean could inspire other regions of the world facing similar challenges.
The partnership aims to develop concrete strategies to make Caribbean tourism more resilient in the face of climate change, while supporting local communities.
Caribbean destinations have to cope with intensifying hurricanes, beach erosion, coral reef degradation and rising sea levels.
The Caribbean Tourism Organization aims to position the Caribbean as a sustainable destination, capable of reconciling tourism development, ecosystem protection and benefits for local populations.
The twinning of Saint-Barth and Saint-Thomas marks a new stage in relations between two neighboring territories whose human, cultural and historical ties have long transcended administrative boundaries. Tuesday, March 10, 2026, Xavier Lédée, President of the Territorial Council of Saint-Barthélemy, and Albert Bryan Jr, Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands, officially signed the twinning agreement between the two islands. The signing provides a concrete framework for a long-standing regional relationship, and lays the foundations for cooperation that is set to expand in a number of areas, including culture, education, sport and institutional exchanges.
In the Caribbean, where neighboring territories often share common histories, families and economic flows, this type of agreement takes on a special dimension. The twinning arrangement between Saint-Barth and Saint-Thomas illustrates this regional reality: that of close islands that are now choosing to structure their relations more closely in order to build joint projects and strengthen their dialogue.
An official signature supported by committed players
The signing of the twinning agreement between Saint-Barth and Saint-Thomas took place in the presence of a delegation representing the institutional and associative life of Saint-Barthélemy. Around the President Xavier Lédée, several personalities involved in the cultural and associative life of the region were present: Bettina Cointre, president of the culture commission, Cécile Coudreau, president of AJOE, Vianney Blanchard, president of the “Jumelage Saint-Barth et Saint-Thomas” association, and Jean-Yann Bouchau, thead of the culture and communications department.
This composition underlines the ambition of the project. The twinning between Saint-Barth and Saint-Thomas is not limited to a relationship between institutions. It also relies on cultural, associative and educational players who will play an essential role in transforming this agreement into concrete initiatives. The first working meetings should rapidly identify projects capable of giving real visibility to this rapprochement between the two territories.
Two neighbouring islands linked by a regional history
The proximity between Saint-Barth and Saint-Thomas is not new. Located just a few dozen kilometers from each other, the two islands have maintained regular human, economic and cultural exchanges over the decades. In the Caribbean, movement between neighboring islands has always shaped daily life. Families, migrations, commercial activities and cultural exchanges have all contributed to the creation of a regional space where administrative borders do not always reflect the reality of human links.
The twinning of Saint-Barth and Saint-Thomas is a logical step in this direction. It formalizes a proximity that is already well established in the region, and opens up the possibility of translating it into structured, sustainable projects.
A project several months in the making
The signing of the agreement in March 2026 is the culmination of a process initiated by the local authorities. As early as 2025, the idea of a twinning arrangement between Saint-Barth and Saint-Thomas had been mooted as a way of strengthening relations between the two territories and developing joint initiatives. Discussions held at the time had already identified several possible areas of cooperation: cultural events, educational exchanges, sporting events and institutional collaboration. The official signature now gives a formal framework to this desire for closer ties, and paves the way for the implementation phase.
Culture, youth and sport: the first areas of cooperation
One of the main aims of the twinning between Saint-Barth and Saint-Thomas is to encourage exchanges between the inhabitants of the two territories.
Cultural initiatives to promote Caribbean heritage
Culture is naturally one of the first areas of cooperation. Exhibitions, artistic encounters, exchanges between associations and heritage initiatives could all help to raise the profile of cultural links between the two islands. In a region marked by linguistic diversity and the legacy of several historical influences, these cultural exchanges also help to enhance local identities while strengthening regional bridges.
Educational exchanges for young people
The jumelage between Saint-Barth and Saint-Thomas also opens up prospects for the younger generation. School or language exchange programs could enable students to learn more about the cultural and social realities of their Caribbean neighbors. In a region where several languages coexist: French, English, Spanish and Creole, these initiatives also represent an opportunity for openness and learning.
Sport as a means of bringing people together
Sport is another important lever for cooperation. Sports meetings between young people, clubs or associations often provide a simple and effective framework for strengthening ties between neighboring territories. These events not only encourage exchanges between residents, but also give concrete visibility to the twinning between Saint-Barth and Saint-Thomas among the general public.
Saint-Thomas and the region's francophone memory
The rapprochement between the two territories is also part of a broader cultural context. St. Thomas has a history marked by the presence of communities from various Caribbean territories, including the neighboring French-speaking islands. This cultural dimension was recently brought to the fore when the authorities of the US Virgin Islands proclaimed a French Heritage Week recognizing the lasting influence of French-speaking communities in the region, particularly those linked to Saint-Barth, Guadeloupe and Saint-Martin.
In this context, the jumelage between Saint-Barth and Saint-Thomas takes on a special resonance. It helps to shed light on a shared history and to strengthen exchanges between territories whose cultural relations go back several generations.
A rapprochement revealing Caribbean dynamics
The twinning between Saint-Barth and Saint-Thomas reflects a wider dynamic in the Caribbean. The region’s territories are increasingly seeking to strengthen their direct cooperation in order to meet common cultural, economic and educational challenges. These partnerships between neighboring islands are helping to build a more connected regional space, where local initiatives can foster exchanges and encourage greater mutual understanding.
From this perspective, the rapprochement between Saint-Barth and Saint-Thomas is a concrete example of how Caribbean territories can transform their historical ties into future projects.
Cooperation set to take shape
The signing of the twinning agreement between Saint-Barth and Saint-Thomas marks the start of a new phase: that of implementing the projects that will bring this agreement to life. Future initiatives will enable us to measure the extent of this cooperation and observe how the two territories choose to develop their exchanges. In a Caribbean where relations between neighboring islands play an essential role in the circulation of cultures, ideas and initiatives, this twinning could become an example of regional cooperation built on already solid human and historical links.
The twinning between Saint-Barth and Saint-Thomas is an official agreement signed on March 10, 2026 between the Collectivité de Saint-Barthélemy and the government of the US Virgin Islands. It aims to strengthen exchanges between the two territories in a number of areas, including culture, education, sport and institutional relations.
This partnership formalizes a long-standing relationship between two neighboring Caribbean islands, enabling the development of joint projects. It also helps strengthen cultural and human links between the region’s French- and English-speaking territories.
The first avenues to be explored include cultural events, school exchanges, sporting events and institutional collaboration, designed to foster relations between residents, associations and institutions in both areas.
Culture in Ouagadougou recently took on a special international dimension. From February 28 to March 3, 2026, the capital of Burkina Faso hosted Roots and Future 2026a meeting dedicated to the development of cultural and creative industries and cooperation between Africa and its diaspora. Conceived as a forum for dialogue and structuring of the cultural sector, the event brought together artists, entrepreneurs, institutions and players in the creative economy around a single ambition: to strengthen bridges between African territories and diasporic communities, particularly in the Caribbean.
For many observers, Roots and Future 2026 marks a milestone in the construction of an international cultural network where artistic and entrepreneurial exchanges become a lever for development.
A vision: linking Africa and its cultural diasporas
Under the theme “Authentic Africa and the Africa of the Diasporas”, the first edition of Roots and Future 2026 is part of a global movement to promote black cultural identities and strengthen cooperation between territories historically linked by the African diaspora. With this in mind, the event offered several formats for professional meetings: masterclasses, strategy sessions, discussions between cultural entrepreneurs and moments of exchange between artists.
These initiatives addressed key issues for the sector: financing of cultural projects, circulation of works, professionalization of players and development of new markets for African artists. Beyond the discussions, Roots and Future 2026 was distinguished above all by its willingness to create concrete collaborations between the various participants.
A strong Caribbean presence
One of the most significant aspects of Roots and Future 2026 was the participation of personalities from the Caribbean, illustrating the growing importance of cultural exchanges between these two areas.
Guests included entrepreneur Davon Carty as well as Victor E. Lewis, CEO of Caribbean One Media Group and Director of the Creative Campus Eco Institute (CCEI). Through the CCEI Victor E. Lewis develops training and coaching initiatives for talent in the creative industries, sports and environmental sectors. His work aims to open up new professional perspectives for young artists and cultural entrepreneurs.
His presence at Roots and Future 2026 provided an opportunity to share the Caribbean’s experience in the creative economy, a field in which the region has recognized expertise, notably in music, events and cultural festivals. These exchanges also served as a reminder of the extent to which the cultural trajectories of Africa and the Caribbean remain deeply intertwined.
Ouagadougou, fertile ground for the cultural economy
Even before the official opening of Roots and Future 2026, a strategy meeting was organized at the Centre culturel Gambidi, an emblematic venue on the Burkinabe art scene. The meeting brought together a number of international players as well as Claude Guingané, General Manager of the center and representative of the IKAM Burkina Faso focal point.
Discussions focused on consolidating the partnership established in 2019 between IKAM and the Maison des industries culturelles et créatives de Ouagadougou (MICCO). One of the projects discussed was the creation of an entrepreneurial hub dedicated to the cultural industries, designed to support artists and project leaders in developing their initiatives. Such a structure could play an essential role in structuring Burkina Faso’s cultural sector and opening it up to international networks.
Action-oriented business meetings
Highlights of Roots and Future 2026 include A media workshop at the Hotel Pacific brought together a number of professionals from the cultural sector for B2B meetings. These exchanges gave participants the opportunity to present their artistic projects, identify potential partners and explore new avenues of cooperation.
Discussions focused on the circulation of artists between Africa and the Caribbean, the co-production of cultural events and the development of transatlantic media projects. For many of the players present, these meetings represent a first step towards the creation of lasting collaborations.
Momentum set to continue
The first edition of Roots and Future 2026 ended on an encouraging note. By bringing together decision-makers, cultural entrepreneurs and artists around a common vision, the event laid the foundations for more structured international cooperation in the cultural field. In a context where the creative industries represent an important economic lever, the initiative also opens up prospects for the circulation of talent and the development of new cultural projects.
For the Caribbean, these exchanges represent an opportunity to strengthen historic ties with the African continent, while helping to build a more connected diasporic cultural space. With this first edition, Roots and Future 2026 positions Ouagadougou as a strategic meeting point between Africa and the world’s creative diasporas.
Roots and Future 2026 is an international event dedicated to the development of the cultural and creative industries, held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
The event aims to strengthen cooperation between Africa and its diaspora, particularly in the Caribbean, and to support the structuring of the cultural sector.
International guests included entrepreneur Davon Carty and Victor E. Lewis, CEO of Caribbean One Media Group and Director of the Creative Campus Eco Institute.
At first glance, a summit on air connectivity seems to be a strictly technical affair: routes, capacity, infrastructure, growth strategies. However, in Bermuda, the CTO Air Connectivity Summit demonstrated that an event dedicated to aviation can also become a genuine cultural and tourist showcase. In the island territories of the wider region, mobility is never just economic. It is profoundly human, based on identity and culture.
Connecting territories, bringing cultures closer together
Discussions at the CTO Air Connectivity Summit focused on the challenges of intra-regional connectivity and the need to strengthen links within the region. But behind these technical issues lies a broader reality: better connecting the region also means facilitating the flow of ideas, artists, entrepreneurs, talent and visitors.
Air connectivity thus becomes an indirect lever for boosting culture and tourism. It is a prerequisite for :
- – the development of multi-destination tourism
- – organizing regional events
- – mobility for young people and creators
- – international visibility of island heritages
In a region rich in tradition and creativity, each new air route is also a bridge between identities.
An opening rooted in Bermudian identity
The CTO Air Connectivity Summit opened with the playing of the national anthem, a solemn moment affirming the institutional anchorage of the host territory.
Between several panels, a youth choir took part, offering an interlude marked by commitment and transmission. In a summit devoted to the future of regional connectivity, the presence of young people was not insignificant: it was a reminder that economic development is part of the continuity of generations.
The closing ceremony of the CTO Air Connectivity Summit featured a traditional performance by the Gombeys. This is an emblematic expression of Bermudian heritage. This tradition combines percussive music, rhythmic dance and distinctive costumes adorned with bangs, feathers and colorful masks. Inherited from African and British influences, it embodies a strong cultural identity.
These moments transformed a strategic summit into a territorial experience.
Culture and attractiveness: a natural alliance
In a context of increasing global tourism competition, destinations can no longer limit themselves to promoting their landscapes. They must assert their uniqueness.
In Bermuda, culture is an active part of the experience. It’s expressed in music, traditions, youthfulness – and even dress codes.
The famous Bermuda shorts are a recognized form of professional attire in the archipelago. Worn with jacket and tie in institutional and business environments, they illustrate an elegant adaptation to the island’s climate while asserting a distinctive identity. Tradition and modernity coexist naturally, including in diplomatic and business environments.
This coherence between culture, protocol and the economic environment plays a key role in the region’s positioning as a tourist destination.
A growing regional dynamic
Beyond the technical discussions, the CTO Air Connectivity Summit highlighted an essential reality: connectivity is a strategic tool, but it is also a vector of cultural influence. In the Caribbean region, air development cannot be dissociated from the identity of the territories it serves.
Linking destinations also means :
- – strengthening cultural exchanges
- – enhancing local heritage
- – boosting tourist appeal
- – building a more integrated regional vision
In Bermuda, the balance between economic strategy and cultural affirmation offered an inspiring example.
The CTO Air Connectivity Summit didn’t just talk about air routes and infrastructure. It showed that an economic event can become a space for cultural representation, where a territory welcomes visitors, asserts its identity and projects its image. In a region where tourism and culture are intimately linked, connectivity is more than just passenger flows. It becomes a bridge between territories, generations and imaginations, and this is perhaps where its true richness lies.
The CTO Air Connectivity Summit is a regional summit organized by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), dedicated to air connectivity issues, route development strategies and cooperation between island territories.
The CTO Air Connectivity Summit aims to strengthen intra-regional connectivity, support multi-destination tourism and facilitate economic, cultural and institutional exchanges between island territories.
In Bermuda, the CTO Air Connectivity Summit incorporated strong cultural elements, including a performance by the Gombeys and the participation of a youth choir, illustrating the link between connectivity, territorial identity and tourist appeal.
TeMeUm 2026 marks a new stage in the policy of supporting local biodiversity initiatives in the French overseas territories. Launched by the French Office for Biodiversity (OFB), this annual campaign aims to finance micro-projects undertaken by associations, small communities and managers of natural areas who are active in the field.
At a time when island ecosystems are under heavy pressure from urbanization, climate change, pollution and biodiversity erosion, this program provides financial and technical resources to transform local initiatives into concrete, measurable actions. Project leaders have until April 14, 2026 to submit their applications via a fully paperless procedure.
Since its creation in 2010, the program has supported more than 420 micro-projects in the French overseas territories, confirming its role as a structuring force in supporting local environmental dynamics.
Financing tailored to small structures
One of the major assets of TeMeUm 2026 lies in its accessibility. The program deliberately targets smaller structures, which often have difficulty accessing traditional financing. Grants awarded range from a few thousand euros to 20,000 euros and can cover up to 80% of the total budget.
Aid is paid out in a single instalment as soon as the project is launched, enabling project sponsors to get their initiatives off the ground quickly, without having to wait for lengthy administrative procedures. This approach responds to a well-known reality in the French overseas territories: local players have solid expertise, but often lack immediate financial resources.
In addition to financial support, the OFB provides technical and administrative assistance to secure the implementation of projects and promote their development on a regional scale.
Three complementary schemes to structure projects
The campaign TeMeUm 2026 campaign is built around three distinct systems, designed to meet a variety of needs.
Springboard: supporting immediate local action
The Tremplin scheme is the operational heart of the program. It supports micro-projects for the protection or restoration of biodiversity, from first experiments in ecological management to innovative pilot initiatives.
Each year, around thirty projects are co-financed for amounts of up to 15,000 euros. The actions supported cover a wide range of fields: species monitoring, restoration of natural habitats, raising public awareness, and experimentation with new ecological management methods.
Among the initiatives supported in 2025 are participatory monitoring of marine biodiversity in Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, a project to mobilize citizens around sustainable urban development in French Guiana, and the creation of a botanical trail in Polynesia to preserve endangered endemic flora.
Cooperation: strengthening technical skills
The Cooperation component aims to structure partnerships between biodiversity stakeholders in order to strengthen local technical capacities. With a grant of up to 20,000 euros. This scheme supports collaborative projects involving several organizations.
These cooperative ventures enable us to pool scientific expertise, improve ecological management methods and develop more coherent territorial strategies. In 2025, a wetland restoration project in Mayotte benefited from this funding following a cyclone that weakened local ecosystems.
Companionships: transmission and training in the field
The Compagnonnages program focuses on vocational training and the transmission of know-how. It enables teams from the French overseas departments and territories to spend short periods of time – one to two weeks – working within expert structures.
The OFB will cover travel, accommodation and catering expenses, up to a maximum of 5,000 euros. This format encourages direct technical exchanges and rapid skills transfers.
In 2025, environmental agents in the Indian Ocean were trained in techniques for capturing and studying chiropterans, while an international partnership studied the impact of microplastics on green turtle egg-laying sites and seabird nesting.
Simplified procedures and local support
The program TeMeUm 2026 is based on a clear commitment to administrative simplification. Applications are submitted entirely electronically via the Démarches Simplifiées platform, making it easier for organizations located far from major administrative centers to apply. Applications are examined by local juries made up of biodiversity stakeholders from each region. This organization guarantees an assessment adapted to the ecological and social realities of each overseas zone.
Support doesn’t stop at the selection stage. TeMeUm’s national teams and the OFB’s regional delegations follow project leaders through the entire process, from dossier preparation to operational implementation, evaluation and valorization of results.
A handbook detailing eligibility criteria and expected commitments is available to applicants. Two information webinars are also scheduled on March 23 and 25, 2026 to help structures prepare their bid.
A major challenge for the Caribbean and Indian Ocean territories
For the French overseas territories, biodiversity is both an exceptional natural heritage and a factor of economic, cultural and tourist resilience. The marine and terrestrial ecosystems of the Caribbean, French Guiana and the Indian Ocean play a central role in protecting against climate risks, ensuring food security and enhancing the attractiveness of these territories. Against this backdrop, TeMeUm 2026 represents a strategic opportunity for local players wishing to develop concrete projects, whether to restore natural habitats, protect endemic species or raise public awareness.
The program also contributes to structuring a network of committed players, encouraging the circulation of skills and the sharing of experience between overseas territories.
Local mobilization for sustainable biodiversity
By renewing its call for projects, the OFB confirms the importance of a territorial approach to biodiversity, based on the expertise of local players. TeMeUm 2026 is more than just a funding scheme: it’s part of a global strategy designed to strengthen the capacity for action of structures in the French overseas territories, and to support initiatives tailored to the ecological realities of each territory. Applications for the three schemes – Tremplin, Coopération and Compagnonnages – are open until April 14, 2026. Project sponsors can contact their local OFB delegation or the TeMeUm team directly for further information.
Through this new campaign, TeMeUm 2026 confirms that preserving biodiversity in the French overseas territories depends above all on the commitment of local players, who are capable of transforming targeted initiatives into sustainable solutions for their territories.
TeMeUm 2026 is a program run by the French Biodiversity Office to finance micro-projects to protect and restore biodiversity in the French overseas territories. It supports associations, local authorities and natural area managers working in the field.
Associations, small local authorities, public establishments and managers of natural areas in the French overseas territories are all eligible to apply. The program is designed to be accessible to small structures with concrete projects in favor of biodiversity.
Applications for the Tremplin, Coopération and Compagnonnages schemes are open until April 14, 2026. Applications must be submitted online via the Simplified Procedures platform of the French Biodiversity Office.
The integration of Richès Karayib into the Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU) marks a new stage in the development of Caribbean media. This membership formalizes Richès Karayib’s regional roots and reinforces its determination to actively contribute to the structuring of the Caribbean media landscape.
In a context where the circulation of content remains fragmented between linguistic and geographic territories, joining the Caribbean Broadcasting Union represents a strategic lever for boosting the visibility and circulation of Caribbean content.
The Caribbean Broadcasting Union, a pillar of the Caribbean media landscape
The Caribbean Broadcasting Union is the regional organization that federates the Caribbean media, covering radio, television, print and digital platforms. It plays a central role in cooperation between broadcasters, the circulation of content, the professionalization of players in the sector and the promotion of Caribbean productions.
Every year, the Caribbean Broadcasting Union organizes the CBU Media Awards. These awards recognize the most outstanding productions in radio, television, print and digital. These awards are a major event for Caribbean media professionals, helping to raise standards of journalistic and editorial quality in the region. By becoming a member of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union, Richès Karayib joins a structured and recognized network at the heart of regional media dynamics.
A strategic step for Richès Karayib
Since its creation, Richès Karayib has been promoting culture, heritage, tourism and the women and men who shape the Caribbean’s attractiveness and influence. Membership of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union consolidates this trajectory by opening up new prospects:
- – publishing cooperation on a regional scale
- – increased circulation of content
- – professional exchanges between member media
- – enhanced visibility with institutional and economic players
Joining the Caribbean Broadcasting Union also enables Richès Karayib to place its productions within a demanding regional framework, where content quality, journalistic rigor and editorial impact are decisive. This new step comes at a time when the medium is developing its print, digital and audiovisual formats, with a clear ambition: to connect Caribbean territories beyond linguistic borders.
Building a structured Caribbean media space
The Caribbean is rich in talent, culture and initiative. However, content produced in one territory is still not widely distributed to other islands and countries in the region. One of the major challenges of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union is precisely to promote this circulation and encourage regional collaboration.
By joining the Caribbean Broadcasting Union, Richès Karayib is affirming its desire to play an active part in this dynamic. This is not just institutional recognition, but a commitment: to contribute to a more connected, visible and structured Caribbean media.
This approach is in line with Richès Karayib’s mission to promote the region’s talents, initiatives and heritage, while encouraging synergies between regions.
Setting course for the CBU Media Awards
As part of this membership, Richès Karayib will take part in the 37th CBU Media Awards organized by the Caribbean Broadcasting Union. Richès Karayib’s participation is in line with the company’s commitment to professionalization and regional outreach.
Beyond the competition, the CBU Media Awards represent a space for Caribbean media to meet, exchange ideas and gain visibility. For RK, it’s a further opportunity to promote a committed editorial voice in the service of the Caribbean.
A new development phase
Joining the Caribbean Broadcasting Union marks a natural evolution for Richès Karayib. After consolidating its presence in the French-speaking Caribbean, the medium is now taking a decisive step towards wider regional integration.
In a changing media environment, where cooperation, editorial quality and international visibility are essential, joining the Caribbean Broadcasting Union is a strong signal.
Richès Karayib’s ambition is to contribute to a more visible, coherent and assertive Caribbean media.
The Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU) is the regional media organization for the Caribbean, covering radio, television, print and digital platforms. It promotes cooperation, the circulation of content and the professionalization of players in the sector.
Membership of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union enables Richès Karayib to join a structured regional network, boost its visibility on a Caribbean scale and develop editorial collaborations with other member media.
The CBU Media Awards are an annual competition organized by the Caribbean Broadcasting Union to recognize the best radio, television, print and digital productions in the region.
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.
