With Bandi, a 2026 Netflix series set in Martinique, eight episodes have taken a Martinican Creole expression far beyond its native territory. “Sa sa pé foutew” means much more than “What’s it to you? It’s a way of setting a limit, sometimes with humor, sometimes with firmness, but always with an element of identity.
Three words, one border
Three Creole words, one question, and one attitude. When the Bandi series arrived on Netflix in 2026, it brought with it a phrase that many Martiniquais recognize: “sa sa pé foutew”. For some, it’s pride. For others, it’s a silent victory. For all those who know what these words mean in a conversation, it’s a moment that counts.
Literally, the phrase can be translated as “what’s it to you?” or “what’s it got to do with you?”. But the translation always gives us away. In reality, “sa sa pé foutew” functions like an air bubble between self and other. It means: you have no authority over my life, what I do is none of your business, I don’t expect your validation. It’s a boundary, not an aggression.
A short formula, many emotions
And it’s precisely this dual dimension – defense and tenderness – that makes the formula so special. Depending on the context, the tone and the face, “sa sa pé foutew” can be a burst of laughter between friends, an icy clarification, or a resigned sigh. The Creole language excels in these short formulas that carry several emotions at once.
Martinique Creole is rich in such expressions. According to the Atlas of Pidgin and Creole Language Structures, it is spoken by around 400,000 people in Martinique, with an equally large diaspora. But numbers don’t tell the whole story. A language doesn’t live by the number of speakers alone. It lives on through intonation, usage, everyday situations, the retorts that circulate in families, neighborhoods, markets, songs or conversations between relatives.
In “sa sa pé foutew”, there’s more than just a phrase. There’s a posture. That of a person who refuses to be intruded upon. It’s a popular voice that knows how to say no without making a speech. This is also why the expression remains difficult to translate properly. In French, it sounds abrupt. In Martinique Creole, it can be funny, dry, affectionate or sharp, depending on the mouth that utters it.
When Martinique Creole arrives on Netflix
The arrival of the formula on Netflix marks something. For a long time, Martinique’s Creole language circulated mainly in local cultural spaces, whether musical, theatrical, family or militant. Seeing it installed in a series broadcast on an international platform changes perception. What was local becomes audible elsewhere. What was familiar to some becomes a subject of curiosity for others.
This does not automatically transform the expression into a global phenomenon. We must not exaggerate. But it does give voice to a language in an area where it is still rare. And, for a regional language often reduced to orality or intimacy, this visibility has weight. It shows that Martinique Creole can carry a plot, a tension, an emotion and a strong line without being decorative.
A Caribbean resonance, without erasing differences
This upsurge in Martinique Creole does not stand alone. It is part of a wider movement to recognize Creole languages in the Caribbean. In Dominica, the country’s official profile mentions English and French Patois, also known as “Kwéyòl”. In Saint Lucia, Kwéyòl pride is expressed every October around Jounen Kwéyòl, linked to International Creole Day on October 28. In Haiti, the 1987 Constitution recognizes Creole and French as the official languages of the Republic.
In Guadeloupe, there are also sister formulas. “Ki sa ou ka chèché?” carries a similar intensity, even if it doesn’t say exactly the same thing. But each island has its own music. Guadeloupe Creole is not Martinique Creole. Saint Lucian kwéyòl is not Haitian Creole. They are related languages, not a single language.
A popular phrase, a demand for autonomy
What makes “sa sa pé foutew” singular in the Martinican context is its social significance. The phrase expresses a relationship with authority, whether familial, social or institutional, and a demand for autonomy that runs through part of popular culture. In zouk songs, in comic theater, in carnival, we find this posture: I hold my place, I don’t ask permission.
When a formula like this leaves its home territory and reaches the ears of viewers who don’t necessarily have a direct link with Martinique, it doesn’t become universal. It becomes curious. And curiosity, for a language long kept at a distance from the major cultural circuits, is already a form of victory.
Next week, we cross the sea to Trinidad to find the equivalent. What expression over there will say the same thing differently?
“Sa sa pé foutew” can be translated as “what’s it got to do with you” or “what’s it got to do with you? In Martinican Creole, the expression is often used to set a limit, with humor, firmness or distance, depending on the context.
The expression is brought back into the spotlight by the Bandi series, broadcast on Netflix and set in Martinique. Its presence in an international production gives new visibility to Martinique Creole and its popular formulas.
“Sa sa pé foutew” is not just a literal translation. The expression conveys an attitude, a way of refusing intrusion and asserting autonomy. It demonstrates the expressive power of Martinique Creole in everyday life.
From May 9 to 17, 2026, the Raizet district of Les Abymes will play host to WAL FEST 2026, billed as Guadeloupe’s first major urban art festival. For ten days, 15 artists from Guadeloupe and elsewhere will create 12 monumental frescoes. The aim is clear: to turn the neighborhood into a free, permanent, open-air museum.
The Abymes district at the heart of the project
In Raizet, the walls of the Les Esses 1, 2 and 3 residences and of Quartiers 1 and 2 of the SIG will be more than just supports. They will become the visible heart of a cultural project designed in collaboration with residents, neighborhood associations and the Raizet socio-cultural center. WAL FEST 2026 is not just about showing finished works. It wants to make visible the artistic gesture, the live work, the exchanges, the hesitations and the encounters.
Co-organized by the WAL association, Wad Al Lub, and the Société Immobilière de Guadeloupe, the event is based on a powerful idea: to transform a 1960s neighborhood into an open-air art trail. According to the dossier submitted by the organization, this transformation is part of a threefold logic: social inclusion, local development and the democratization of artistic creation.
15 artists, 12 frescoes and an international scene together
For ten days, 15 international artists will take over Le Raizet to create 12 monumental live frescoes. The announced program includes artists from Guadeloupe, Guyana, the Dominican Republic, France, the Netherlands, Spain and the Caribbean.
Among the artists announced are Steek, Al Pacman, Pauline and Mathilde Bonnet, the 4KG collective, Pock, Ti Latour, Greeffe, Kilia Llano, Hopare, Kaldea, Zailfana, Does and Zurik. The presence of established artists alongside Guadeloupean talent creates a dialogue between various practices: graffiti, muralism, painting, illustration, memory, abstraction, portraiture, public art and urban cultures. The festival also features a mixed program, with as many female as male muralists in this first edition.
WAL FEST 2026: A program designed for local residents, schoolchildren and families
WAL FEST 2026 opens on Saturday May 9 with an official launch featuring artistic performances, music and a screening of Gérard Maximin’s documentary Mas Ka Klé, La porte du retour. Tuesday May 12 will be dedicated to schoolchildren, with guided tours of the art trail, meetings with artists and educational workshops.
On Thursday May 14, an eco-citizen day will be organized in partnership with Cap Excellence. It will combine environmental awareness, civic action and reflection on the territory. On Friday May 15, starting at 7 p.m., the lewoz, a traditional Guadeloupean cultural evening, will honor local heritage with the participation of pô groups from Le Raizet.
On May 16 and 17, the WAL FEST Village, also known as Vilaj Papyon, will take place from 10 am to 6 pm. The village will feature three main hubs: employment, training, crafts, exhibitions, prevention and awareness-raising. From 4 p.m., the stage will host musical entertainment, dance performances and a fashion show, in partnership with the Conseil Départemental and the ONTGABF association.
Urban art as an educational tool
WAL FEST isn’t just about frescoes. From May 9 to 17, introductory urban art workshops will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the heart of the residences concerned. They will be led by Guadeloupe artists including Skem, Macfa, 1So, Art’So, Yeswoo, Karey and Sek. These workshops will enable children, young people and adults to understand the codes of urban art, experiment with techniques and engage in dialogue with professional artists. The stated aim is to stimulate creativity, boost self-confidence and open participants up to other artistic cultures.
This educational dimension gives WAL FEST 2026 a special significance. Audiences don’t just come to watch. They can learn, question, participate and situate themselves in a broader artistic history.
A citizens' village for jobs, culture and rights
Vilaj Papyon gives the festival a social and economic dimension. The employment and training center will be offering meetings with local companies, career advice, exchanges with recruiters, a discovery of professions and integration paths.
Another section will be devoted to heritage and culture, with local crafts, Guadeloupean know-how, exhibitions and demonstrations. An information area will also focus on access to health services, social rights, assistance for people on minimum social benefits and the elderly, as well as road safety education.
WAL, an established player in Guadeloupe's urban art scene
Created in 2014, the WAL association has established itself as a key player in the development of urban art in Guadeloupe. Its Le Mur Guadeloupe project, launched in 2023 in the Dothémare area of Les Abymes, has already welcomed 22 artists in residence since September 2023. With WAL FEST 2026, the association is taking things to the next level. The event does more than simply exhibit artists: it sets up a route through an inhabited neighborhood, involving residents and making urban art part of a territorial strategy.
If this first edition of WAL FEST lives up to its promise, Le Raizet could become the starting point for an event that would travel to another intercommunal region each year. So the question remains: how far can Guadeloupe turn its walls into a common language of creation, memory and future?
📸 ©WAL FEST
WAL FEST 2026 is an urban art festival to be held in Raizet, Les Abymes, Guadeloupe, from May 9 to 17, 2026. It includes the creation of 12 monumental frescoes by 15 artists from Guadeloupe and beyond.
WAL FEST 2026 will take place in Le Raizet, in the commune of Les Abymes. The frescoes will be created in the heart of the Les Esses 1, 2 and 3 residences and in Quartiers 1 and 2 of the SIG.
WAL FEST 2026 aims to transform Le Raizet into a free, permanent, open-air museum. The project combines artistic creation, resident participation, educational workshops, a citizens’ village, employment, training and neighborhood enhancement.
IShowSpeed Caribbean Tour opens a rare window on the Caribbean. The announcement was broadcast on April 20 on the American creator’s networks, with a live broadcast scheduled for April 25, 2026. The published list mentions fifteen destinations: Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Sint Maarten, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago and the US Virgin Islands. In the space of a few hours, this tour placed the region in an unusual position of global visibility.
IShowSpeed Caribbean Tour deserves attention for one simple reason: IShowSpeed gathers a gigantic audience. The Associated Press recalls that it surpassed 50 million subscribers on YouTube during its African tour in January 2026. At this scale, every move becomes a live event, picked up by other accounts and transformed into short sequences that circulate quickly. When an entire itinerary is devoted to the Caribbean, the territories, accents, landscapes and everyday customs enter the field of vision of an international audience.
The Caribbean as a whole
The first strength of the IShowSpeed Caribbean Tour lies in the overall picture it produces. The list combines independent states and territories, English-, French-, Spanish- and Dutch-speaking areas. This juxtaposition reminds us that the Caribbean is a multiple region, crossed by different languages and heritages, while retaining deep links.
This regional reading corresponds to a historical reality. Human, musical, commercial, religious and family circulations have existed for centuries from one island to another. Borders have shaped distinct administrations and statuses. They have never erased exchanges. In a single announcement, the Caribbean appears as a legible space for millions of people who often perceive it in a fragmented way.
Visibility through the codes of the present
The format counts almost as much as the list of destinations. IShowSpeed is all about live action, improvisation, immediate reaction and massive sharing. Its audience follows less a program than a presence. This way of filming changes the nature of the exhibition. The viewer watches streets, beaches, markets, journeys, encounters and crowd scenes as they happen.
For the Caribbean, this exhibition has a special significance. Many of the region’s territories suffer from uneven visibility in the major media circuits. The best-known benefit from a well-established image. Others remain absent from global narratives, or reduced to a few clichés. The IShowSpeed Caribbean Tour can therefore play a useful role: showing a diversity of places and atmospheres to a young public that is building its vision of the world through platforms.
An opportunity for cultural and media players
IShowSpeed Caribbean Tour is also of interest to artists, organizers, local media and creators based in the region. A tour of this scale can highlight a dancer, a musician, a culinary tradition, an urban setting, a popular event or a local personality. It can also create connections between territories that rarely communicate at this speed.
However, the added value of IShowSpeed Caribbean Tour will depend on how these moments are accompanied. A viral image attracts attention for a few hours. Serious editorial work extends this interest. It provides reference points, recalls history, clarifies political and cultural contexts, and helps us understand what we’re seeing. This is an opportunity for the Caribbean to tell the story of its plurality with greater mastery.
A visible symbolic impact
It would be premature to announce any quantified tourist effects or immediate economic spin-offs. However, one thing is clear: the Caribbean is gaining a global presence in one of today’s most popular formats.
This is where IShowSpeed Caribbean Tour really comes into its own. IShowSpeed Caribbean Tour brings together in a single movement territories that are often commented on separately. It reminds us that the region possesses a cultural, visual and social force capable of capturing attention on a grand scale. For audiences unfamiliar with the area, it can open a first door. For those who are already familiar with it, it confirms that the Caribbean remains a major hotbed of creation, circulation and energy in the contemporary world.
IShowSpeed Caribbean Tour is a tour announced by American creator IShowSpeed across several Caribbean territories. Beyond the announcement itself, this tour is attracting attention for its media scope and the visibility it can offer the region as a whole.
IShowSpeed Caribbean Tour is attracting a lot of interest because IShowSpeed is one of the most followed creators in the world. When he travels, his videos, live broadcasts and excerpts shared on the networks quickly reach an international audience, giving this tour a much wider reach than a series of stopovers.
IShowSpeed Caribbean Tour is important because it shows the Caribbean as a visible, vibrant and connected regional space. The tour links several territories in a single narrative and reminds us that the region possesses a cultural, linguistic and social richness capable of attracting attention on a large scale.
Yes, IShowSpeed Caribbean Tour can have a real cultural impact. This type of tour can highlight local landscapes, sounds, accents, lifestyles, artists and moods. It can also encourage a new way of looking at the Caribbean, particularly among a younger audience who follow world news via digital platforms.
It’s still too early to accurately measure the impact of the IShowSpeed Caribbean Tour on tourism. On the other hand, this tour can already raise the profile of the Caribbean and feed the curiosity of a global audience. This media exposure can then benefit the territories if it is intelligently relayed by cultural, tourism and media players.
From April 29 to May 3, 2026, the city of Basse-Terre will host the second edition of the festival Patrimoines en Lumières 2026 is now a fixture on the Guadeloupean cultural calendar. After a highly acclaimed first edition in 2024, this biennial event has established itself as a structuring initiative, at the crossroads of heritage enhancement and contemporary artistic creation.
Conceived as a truly immersive journey, the festival transforms the capital into a living space where monuments, public spaces and emblematic sites become the mediums for a renewed artistic narrative. For five days, residents and visitors alike will rediscover Basse-Terre through a rich, accessible program deeply rooted in the region’s identity.
A festival that gives new meaning to Basse-Terre's heritage
With Patrimoines en Lumières 2026, the City of Basse-Terre is asserting a clear vision: to make heritage a lever for cultural, social and territorial development. The Guadeloupean capital has been awarded the Ville d’art et d’histoire (City of Art and History) label, and boasts a rich architectural, historical and intangible heritage that is often little-known by the general public. The festival offers a contemporary interpretation of this heritage, showcasing it through artistic installations, performances and immersive experiences. The aim is twofold: to pass on the collective memory, while making it part of a contemporary dynamic, capable of touching all generations.
This approach will also reposition Basse-Terre as a major cultural hub in Guadeloupe and the Caribbean, boosting its appeal to local and international audiences.
Multi-disciplinary programming open to all
The Patrimoines en Lumières 2026 festival stands out for the diversity of its programming. The event is not limited to a single format, but offers a genuine artistic journey:
- – live shows
- – concerts
- – film screenings
- – conferences and meetings
- – guided walks
- – participatory workshops
- – youth initiatives
- – contemporary art proposals
- – heritage culinary experiences
Each discipline contributes to building bridges between memory and creation, tradition and modernity, transmission and innovation. The festival thus appeals to a wide audience, from cultural enthusiasts to families and professionals in the arts.
Caribbean and international artists already announced
The artistic program for Patrimoines en Lumières 2026 is beginning to take shape, with an initial selection of established artists. This diversity reflects the festival’s desire to cross influences and showcase talent from the Caribbean and beyond.
Among the names announced:
- – Arnaud Dolmen
- – Beethova Obas
- – Big In Jazz Collective
- – Demwazel Dys
- – E.sy Kennenga
- – Gasandji
- – House An Nou
This first wave illustrates a demanding artistic line-up, blending jazz, contemporary music, hybrid creations and contemporary expressions. It also heralds a program that favors quality, diversity and dialogue between cultures. A number of events have already been identified, including musical performances at L’Artchipel, Scène nationale, and artistic performances from workshops, integrated into the overall festival program.
An immersive experience in the heart of the city
For five days, Patrimoines en Lumières 2026 transforms Basse-Terre into an open-air space for artistic exploration. Heritage sites become living stages, combining light, sound, image and movement. Visitors are invited to move from one site to another, take part in guided walks, attend performances or take part in workshops. This immersive dimension is one of the strong points of the festival, which favors direct experience and active discovery. In this way, the city is redesigned as you walk along, offering a fresh reading of its history and urban landscapes.
A project supported by major institutional partners
The Patrimoines en Lumières 2026 festival is organized by the City of Basse-Terre, with the support of the Conseil départemental de la Guadeloupe, a major partner of the event. It is also supported by the Direction des Affaires culturelles of Guadeloupe, Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélemy, as well as L’Artchipel, Scène nationale. This collaboration testifies to a shared desire to structure an ambitious cultural offering, capable of boosting the region’s visibility and supporting local artistic players. By mobilizing these institutions, the festival is part of a global strategy for cultural development, in which heritage and creation become tools for cohesion and outreach.
Ramp-up scheduled for 2026
Following the success of its first edition, Patrimoines en Lumières 2026 marks an important step in the consolidation of this event. The 2026 edition promises to be more structured, more ambitious and more visible, with a program that is currently being rolled out. The gradual announcement of artists and events is helping to maintain a dynamic of attention around the festival, while leaving room for new revelations in the weeks to come. This rhythm of communication accompanies the rise of the event, which is becoming an essential fixture on Guadeloupe’s cultural scene.
Practical information
📅 Dates: from April 29 to May 3, 2026
📍 Location: Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe
🎭 Type of event: multidisciplinary festival (heritage, arts, music, cinema, conferences)
👥 Public: all audiences
🎟️ Detailed programming and ticketing: to be unveiled gradually.
Patrimoines en Lumières 2026 offers an immersive experience in the heart of the city of Basse-Terre, where heritage becomes a medium for artistic expression. For five days, historic monuments, public spaces and emblematic sites are transformed into open stages hosting concerts, live performances, screenings, visual installations, conferences and workshops. The festival also includes guided walks to help visitors better understand the city’s history, as well as initiatives dedicated to young people. This diversity allows each visitor to build his or her own pathway between culture, discovery and transmission.
The 2026 edition of Patrimoines en Lumières will feature a multi-disciplinary artistic program, mixing Caribbean talent with international artists. Several names have already been announced, including Arnaud Dolmen, Beethova Obas, Big In Jazz Collective, Demwazel Dys, E.sy Kennenga, Gasandji and House An Nou. Performances will cover a wide range of artistic universes, from jazz and contemporary music to hybrid creations and contemporary proposals. Added to this are a variety of formats such as cinema, lectures and open-air performances, reinforcing the richness and diversity of the festival.
Patrimoines en Lumières is gradually establishing itself as a structuring event for Guadeloupe, and in particular for the city of Basse-Terre. The festival plays a key role in promoting the region’s tangible and intangible heritage, while supporting contemporary artistic creation. It also contributes to strengthening the capital’s cultural appeal and creating links between residents, artists and visitors. Backed by major institutional partners and an accessible program, the event is part of a wider dynamic of cultural development and knowledge transfer, both locally and throughout the Caribbean.
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 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.
ALEFPA – Association Laïque pour l’Education, la Formation, la Prévention et l’Autonomie – holds a simple conviction: no one should be reduced to his or her frailty. Behind every story, every silence, every difficulty, there’s a person looking for support, a place to rebuild, a non-judgmental gaze.
Children in care, vulnerable adults, people with disabilities, women victims of violence, isolated seniors: whatever the story, ALEFPA provides what becomes essential when everything falters – a place to rest and professionals who stay by your side.
In the French West Indies – in Martinique, Saint-Martin and Guadeloupe, including Marie-Galante – this mission takes on an even more intimate dimension. Our teams work as close as possible to the realities on the ground, to the rhythm of lives, emergencies, islands and their cultures. They know the social players, the local customs, the shortcomings, the strengths, the invisible solidarity.
The ALEFPA teams are working on this with a strong conviction: support to give back a place, a dignity, a rhythm, a future.
Governance rooted in people
At the head of the association, ALEFPA Chairman Daniel Dubois, Director Olivier Baron and Antilles Manager Michel Cailloux share a common vision: social action is only meaningful if it remains close to the field and the people it serves.
Daniel Dubois embodies this approach.
Trained as a specialized educator, former head of department, director of a facility, general manager and then chairman of this large association, he knows every stage of social work. “When we see the smiles on the faces of the people we help, that’s our salary,” he confides.
This sentence sums up the spirit that guides every ALEFPA decision.
During their last stay in the French West Indies, our managers rediscovered a strong, warm Caribbean identity, where uniqueness is experienced as a source of richness.
Olivier Baron often reminds us that ALEFPA provides support “from 6 months to 101 years”, a way of underlining the diversity of the lives supported by the association.
At the last seminar, he highlighted a Creole expression that was the common thread: “Sé an lanmen ka lave lòt.” One hand washes the other. A simple and powerful way of reminding us that we always move forward better together, in the spirit of “faire ensemble” which guides ALEFPA.
Michel Cailloux based in Guadeloupe, plays an essential role, providing a day-to-day presence, support for teams and a detailed understanding of island realities. It provides feedback not only on what professionals are experiencing, but also on what the regions are saying.
Together, they apply a clear method: listen before acting, adapt each project to the reality of the islands, and build solutions that respect the rhythms, cultures and needs of each community.
In Saint-Martin, creating a space where you can take a breather
In Saint-Martin, ALEFPA supports adults whose lives have often been marked by profound disruptions, years of precariousness or wandering. During his last visit, Daniel Dubois was struck by the state of the premises: despite the remarkable commitment of the teams, the place no longer offered the dignified reception conditions these people should find when they are looking to stabilize.
This led to the decision to transform the facility into a veritable City of Dignity. This project aims to completely rethink the space to offer greater comfort, privacy and respect – three essential elements for allowing someone to catch their breath.
The future Cité will offer a warmer setting, better adapted to day-to-day needs, and structured support to help everyone regain their bearings, reorganize their lives and gradually rebuild their confidence. Here, the aim is not just to provide accommodation, but to create a place where people can finally settle down, breathe and look forward to a more stable tomorrow.
In addition, almost 700 people depend on the ALEFPA grocery store every week. This figure alone underlines the importance of improving reception conditions so that everyone can find a place to rest, catch their breath and rebuild a minimum of stability.
In Martinique, moving towards a new stability
In Martinique, ALEFPA works with men who have come out of long periods of wandering or instability, often after a life on the streets or suffering from psychological fragility.
Many have the same feeling: For some, it had been years since they had slept behind a closing door, found a rhythm again, taken care of themselves.
These modest advances – a hot meal, a bed, a routine – are often the starting point for a profound rebuilding process.
In the near future, a reception center for people leaving prison will open in Fort-de-France, near the courthouse.
This place will offer a secure transition: listening, guidance, reference points, orientation and support in essential steps.
The Kou Rosalie-Soleil (Cour Rosalie-Soleil), located in another part of Fort-de-France, takes in women who are victims of domestic violence.
Support is provided at each person’s own pace, without rushing, by first recreating a protective environment. The teams offer listening, psychological support, material security and work towards autonomy.
Every story is unique, and every step of the way is valued.
In Guadeloupe, including Marie-Galante, integration through local talent
In Guadeloupe and Marie-Galante, ALEFPA makes the most of the region’s resources to help people become more independent.
Here, integration is based on local know-how, ancestral gestures, the land, water and the processing of local products.
In ESATs and integration structures, workshops become places of pride, where everyone finds a purpose, a rhythm, a place.
Here, Creole gardens are cultivated without pesticides, local fruit is processed, traditional flours are produced and local fruit is dried.
Aquaponics, sometimes even installed in schools, enables children to feed the fish and harvest the lettuce: concrete, sustainable learning that reconnects them with the living world and the land.
These activities are not just professional: they restore confidence. They enable us to play a part in something, to feel that we are contributing and making progress. For many of the people we support, regaining a role, however modest, is a huge step towards stability.
Another major challenge facing these establishments is the ageing of the people who work in ESATs (Établissements et Services d’Aide par le Travail). For those who have worked all their lives in these structures, how can they maintain their bearings as they age?
ALEFPA is thinking about small living units, created close to the places where these people have always lived. These familiar, human-scale spaces enable people to grow old without being uprooted. Keeping one’s bearings, one’s ties, one’s environment – means preserving one’s dignity.
Convincing rather than coercing: a founding principle
As Daniel Dubois often says, you can’t help someone by forcing them, but by helping them to rediscover the desire and ability to move forward. At ALEFPA, support is based on a simple yet demanding approach: listening, dialogue, and valuing each small step forward.
Many of the people we welcome arrive battered, distrustful, sometimes tired of no longer believing in themselves. The role of the teams is not to force them, but to show them, step by step, that they still have resources, capacities and possibilities.
“Our job is to help everyone become aware of what they can do,” he often explains. This approach changes everything: it restores confidence, it restores dignity, it breaks down the simplistic view that society sometimes takes of people in vulnerable situations.
At ALEFPA, no individual is a file. Everyone is a story, an identity, a culture, a potential.
Culture and sport as levers of pride and belonging
Culture plays an essential role in ALEFPA: it creates links, awakens memories, brings people together and restores pride. Each year, the association organizes a national cultural project involving all its establishments.
This year, the common theme is “Cuisine, Health & Territories”, a subject that takes on particular resonance in the Caribbean.
In Martinique, Guadeloupe, Marie-Galante and Saint-Martin, the teams gather family recipes, dishes handed down from generation to generation, childhood memories and stories around a fruit, a market or a gesture.
These contributions will be brought together in a collective book, highlighting not only the culinary and cultural diversity of these regions, but also the voices and backgrounds of those involved.
But there’s more to it than that: cooking together, telling stories, sharing, is a way of rebuilding self-esteem, forging links and enhancing the value of what makes us who we are.
Other cultural and sporting initiatives punctuate the year, such as the Aléfpiades solidaires and bicycle raids. These events bring together participants from all the regions where ALEFPA is present, sometimes for their first trip outside their own territory. These are moments when we push ourselves, encourage each other and discover that we can go further than we thought.
Here again, the objective is the same: to open up horizons, to enable the people we support to project themselves, to dare, to become part of a collective dynamic. Here, sport becomes a bridge between territories, an engine of confidence, a way of saying: “We all have a story that deserves recognition.”
Local roots, broad horizons
Olivier Baron likes to quote Édouard Glissant: “Act in your place and think with the world.”
This phrase sums up the spirit of ALEFPA. Established in the Caribbean for over forty years, the association works at the heart of the region, drawing inspiration from practices elsewhere. Each project feeds the others. Each local experience enriches the national vision.
In the course of our guided tours, one simple, essential phrase recurs:
I have my place.
A place in a workshop... at the table... in the community.
This is what ALEFPA is all about: reminding everyone that it's not too much and that it counts.
FAQ
ALEFPA (Association Laïque pour l’Education, la Formation, la Prévention et l’Autonomie) supports people in vulnerable situations at every stage of their lives. Its mission is to provide a framework, professionals and concrete solutions to restore dignity, regain stability and move towards greater autonomy.
In the French West Indies, ALEFPA works as closely as possible to local realities, welcoming and accompanying vulnerable adults, supporting women who have been victims of violence, integrating people via ESATs and workshops rooted in local know-how, and responding to social emergencies such as the solidarity grocery store. The aim remains the same: to give people back their place and bearings, without judgment.
The article highlights several priorities: in Saint-Martin, the transformation of a facility into a “Cité de la dignité” to improve reception; in Martinique, the forthcoming opening of a reception center for people leaving detention in Fort-de-France and the work of Kou Rosalie-Soleil for women victims of violence; in Guadeloupe and Marie-Galante, integration through local talent, as well as reflection on the aging of people in ESAT.
The Conseil de Coordination Interportuaire Antilles-Guyane (CCIAG ) met on December 12, 2025 at Habitation Le PALM in Martinique. This annual meeting, provided for in the French Transport Code, has become a major lever for inter-territorial governance between Guadeloupe, Martinique and French Guiana.
Supported by the French State and the three Grands Ports Maritimes, the CCIAG aims to reinforce the coherence of port policies, support the economic resilience of the territories and ensure the long-term inclusion of the South-Caribbean axis in a dynamic of regional cooperation.
Collegial governance at the service of territories
“The CCIAG is more than a technical body: it’s a forum for strategic dialogue with representatives of the State, local authorities and ports,” emphasizes Bruno Mencé, Chairman of the Board of the Grand Port Maritime de la Martinique.
The CCIAG ensures that port policies are regularly aligned with national guidelines and local needs. Each year, the three ports pool their experience and define joint priorities: safety, connectivity, ecological transition and logistics competitiveness.
Jean-Pierre Chalus, Chairman of the Board of the Port of Guadeloupe, insists that this shared governance allows for concrete monitoring of progress and difficulties:
“Every year, we have an update on the orientations voted collectively, which enables us to point out our progress, our difficulties, and to continue on our way.”
He also emphasizes the growing mobilization of teams around environmental issues:
“There is a lot of enthusiasm from all the ports to invest in energy, ecological and other transitions, serving the sustainable development of our territories.”
Stéphane Tant, Chairman of the Board of the Grand Port Maritime de la Guyane, stresses the importance of this annual meeting:
“It’s a meeting that enables us to exchange views not only between ports, but also with elected representatives, the DGOM (Direction Générale des Outre-mer) and the DGITM (Direction Générale des Infrastructures, des Transports et de la Mer), on our common challenges, our development needs and our roadmap.
He emphasizes that the CCIAG is about more than just the port, it’s about economic development and regional connectivity.
A common roadmap and concrete actions
The 2025-2029 roadmap, defined collectively by all the players within the CCIAG, focuses on major areas such as decarbonization, port safety, innovation and adaptation to climate change. Bruno Mencé explains:
“We have to guarantee an identical level of safety and security in our three ports, corresponding to the needs of our customers and the territories.”
He also stresses the importance of regional cooperation with PMAC (Port Management Association of the Caribbean) to create a Caribbean economic observatory:
“It’s a truly Caribbean project that we’re working on with PMAC, i.e. with all Caribbean ports,” explains Bruno Mencé.
The aim is to gain a better understanding of how shipping lines work, and to identify ways of developing trade with neighboring islands.
Jean-Pierre Chalus points out that this roadmap makes it possible to deal with strategic subjects such as inter-territorial services:
“Regular service to French Guiana, Guadeloupe and Martinique is an important factor for our territories, for both economic and political players.”
He also emphasizes the role of technical meetings held throughout the year between port departments, to ensure continuous progress.
Among the concrete actions already undertaken, he cites the joint signing of a commitment with the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) on the management of invasive exotic species, reflecting the ports’ involvement in shared environmental issues.
Stéphane Tant, highlights the prospects for enhanced cooperation with the The Guianas, within the framework of a biannual conference between French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname and two Brazilian states (Amapá and Pará):
“We are leading a cooperation conference of the ports of The Guianas.”
This initiative complements the work of the CCIAG by extending regional connections to South America.
A shared vision: overcoming insularity
The CCIAG has a shared ambition that goes beyond mere coordination between ports. By bringing together port directors, government representatives, local authorities and the chairmen of supervisory boards, this body promotes a global approach to logistics and territorial development.
All participants agreed on one thing: port performance can no longer be thought of in isolation. It depends on broader governance, capable of connecting public policies, economic issues and environmental imperatives. This common framework will enable us to lay the foundations for more resilient, better integrated logistics, geared towards the Greater Caribbean as a whole.
In 2026, this dynamic will continue in French Guiana, at the next plenary session. An eagerly-awaited meeting to deepen this multi-stakeholder cooperation and consolidate the foundations of regional logistical sovereignty.
FAQ
The Conseil de Coordination Interportuaire Antilles-Guyane (CCIAG) is a body set up under the French Transport Code, bringing together the French government, local authorities and the three Grands Ports Maritimes of Guadeloupe, Martinique and French Guiana. Its aim is to coordinate port policies, reinforce regional logistics coherence and support regional economic development.
The 2025-2029 roadmap focuses on several priorities: decarbonizing port activities, safety and security, adapting to climate change, logistics innovation and strengthening regional connectivity, particularly with the Caribbean and the Guyana Plateau.
By promoting shared governance between ports, the French government and local authorities, the CCIAG enables us to move beyond a strictly insular approach. It contributes to structuring more resilient logistics, improving the regularity of maritime services, and placing the Antilles-Guyane territories in a broader regional cooperation dynamic.
In Martinique, Guadeloupe and Saint-Martin, solidarity remains a quiet force. It is embodied in everyday gestures, in the attention paid to others, and in the shared conviction that no vulnerability is inevitable. It is in this spirit that ALEFPA (Association Laïque pour l’Education, la Formation, la Prévention et l’Autonomie – Lay Association for Education, Training, Prevention and Autonomy) has been pursuing a simple and humane mission for over sixty years: to accompany each person, at every stage of their life, towards greater autonomy and dignity.
An historic presence and solid Caribbean roots
Present throughout France, ALEFPA helps 20,000 people every year, thanks to 250 establishments and over 4,000 employees.
In the Caribbean, ALEFPA is firmly established in the Caribbean:
- – In Guadeloupe as early as 1981, with the Institut Médico-Éducatif Denis Forestier ;
- – In Martinique since 2012, with the Rosannie Soleil Housing and Social Reintegration Center ;
- – Saint-Martin, since 2020, with the CHRS Le Manteau.
A total of 37 ALEFPA welcome and support 2,763 beneficiaries, supported by 311 full-time equivalents. This network of local players embodies a solidarity rooted in the realities on the ground.
Two days of action to strengthen social ties
October 28 and 29, 2025, ALEFPA organized two major days in Martinique, marked by the visit of Chairman Daniel Dubois and Managing Director Olivier Baron.
On October 28, the representatives visited the Legal Representative Service for the Protection of Adults (SMJPM) in Fort-de-France. The meeting provided an opportunity to showcase the work of local teams who support vulnerable adults in their legal, social and human affairs.
The following day, ALEFPA and the Martinique Real Estate Company (SIMAR) have signed an APL Foyer agreement in Schœlcher to develop new social and inclusive housing solutions. This partnership is aimed at the elderly, the disabled and the most disadvantaged, and is part of the national program IDRA supported by the” National Solidarity Fund for Autonomy (CNSA) and the National Old Age Insurance Fund (CNAV).
“These two days symbolize our determination to anchor the work of ALEFPA into the realities of Martinique, alongside the region’s institutions and social players”, declared Daniel Dubois.
“Working with our partners to ensure that every vulnerable person has access to decent housing and appropriate support,” added Olivier Baron.
Lakou Rosannie Soleil, symbol of a shared habitat
In Fort-de-France, the Lakou Rosannie Soleil illustrates this Caribbean philosophy of concrete solidarity.
Owned by SIMAR and managed by ALEFPA, the site, owned by SIMAR and managed by ALEFPA, is home to 57 housing units, including an accommodation and social reintegration center, a halfway house and a hostel.
The word lakou – the shared courtyard of Creole houses – takes on its full meaning here: a collective space where mutual help structures daily life.
Two new ALEFPA independent living residences, also known as autonomous residences, are set to open in Martinique between 2026 and 2027, further extending the inclusive dynamic already underway on La Réunion.
A demanding social context and local responses
In Martinique, almost a third of the population lives below the poverty line, and difficulties in accessing housing particularly affect low-income pensioners, people with disabilities and families in very precarious situations.
Faced with this situation ALEFPA works closely with local authorities, the Regional Health Agency (ARS), the Family Allowance Fund (CAF), the Regional Directorate for Economy, Employment, Labor, and Solidarity (DREETS) and social landlords.
Its governance includes directors from the French overseas territories, ensuring that its actions are in tune with local needs.
Inclusion and creativity in Guadeloupe and Saint-Martin
In Guadeloupe, solidarity is literally cultivated: the Work Assistance Facility and Service (ESAT) La Ravine Bleue de Pointe-Noire has launched an aquaponics food garden in partnership with the Butterfly Effect.
Disabled workers learn to produce differently, in a way that respects nature and the circular economy.
In Saint-Martin, the work of ALEFPA extends to prevention and awareness-raising. Artist Esy Kennenga spoke to young people about violence against women, illustrating the link between culture, education and inclusion.
Marie-Galante: guaranteeing medical and social continuity
Another highlight of 2025: the takeover of the Association of Parents and Friends of Children with Special Needs (APAEI) of Marie-Galante by ALEFPA confirmed by the Pointe-à-Pitre court on August 22, 2025.
This decision made it possible to maintain 73 jobs and ensure the continuity of medico-social support, with the support of the ARS and local authorities.
A responsible and humane approach, true to the vocation of ALEFPA‘s vocation: to never break the link with the most vulnerable.
Sustainable, committed solidarity
Committed to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) approach, ALEFPA combines social inclusion, respect for the environment and innovation.
From Guadeloupe to Martinique, its initiatives weave a network of sustainable solidarity where the social, health and educational sectors combine to recreate links.
Through these actions, ALEFPA confirms that in the Caribbean, solidarity is not just a word, but a way of life.
In the lakouresidences, gardens and shelters, the association continues a tradition of proximity and humanity.
A discreet but profound commitment that reminds us that the Caribbean is built above all on human warmth, respect and renewed trust.
