From December 11, 2026, to March 5, 2027, the route Martinique – Panama City, Air France will offer this route twice a week, with a stopover in Pointe-à-Pitre. More than just a new destination, this route could transform the way people from Martinique travel to Central America, South America, and several Caribbean territories.
Martinique – Panama City : Redrawing the Map of Travel
From Martinique, certain cities on the American continent appear close on a map, yet are difficult to reach. To get to Quito, Lima, San José, or Tegucigalpa, travelers often have to deal with long routes and inconvenient connections. The new route is expected to reduce this sense of isolation. Passengers will depart from Fort-de-France, make a stop in Pointe-à-Pitre, and then continue on to Panama City. This is therefore not a direct flight, but a new regional route connecting the French West Indies to one of the main hubs on the American continent.
This trend goes beyond the issue of tourism alone. It also affects families, students, professionals, artists, and entrepreneurs who have ties to Spanish- and English-speaking regions in the Americas.
Two flights a week to launch new routes
The route will be operated by an Airbus A320, with 170 seats divided between Business and Economy class. High-speed Wi-Fi is also available on board. Bookings are now open, with a promotional round-trip fare starting at 499 euros (including tax), excluding service fees. This is an introductory price and may vary depending on dates, availability, and booking conditions. The program remains subject to obtaining the necessary government approvals. This first season of Martinique – Panama City should therefore be considered a launch phase.
Panama City: A Destination and a Stopover
The appeal of this flight lies in Panama City’s dual role. The capital is worth visiting in its own right, with its canal, historic district, and Panamá Viejo, an archaeological site that highlights the isthmus’s historic role in interoceanic trade. The complex comprising Panamá Viejo and the historic district is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Panama City also serves as a gateway to continue your journey to other destinations. The announced destinations include Asunción, Guatemala City, Guayaquil, Quito, Lima, Managua, Montevideo, San José, and Tegucigalpa. Havana, Georgetown, Port of Spain, Punta Cana, and Santo Domingo are also among the destinations accessible via connecting flights.
This new geographical landscape could bring Martinique closer to countries with which it already has trade ties, but where such ties are sometimes hindered by a lack of convenient connections. Martinique – Panama City thus becomes a gateway to the Americas and offers a new alternative for organizing certain regional trips.
Martinique – Panama City Revives Caribbean Memories
The connection between the French West Indies and Panama did not begin with aviation. It spans the history of the canal and the large-scale Caribbean labor migrations of the early 20th century. The Panama Canal Authority reports that approximately 7,500 men were recruited in 1907 from the French islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe. They traveled to the isthmus to work on the construction project led by the United States. Behind this figure lie individual life stories, separated families, departures that were sometimes permanent, and a Caribbean presence that has contributed to Panama’s modern history.
This thesis lends a special depth to this new connection. More than a century after those crossings, modes of transportation have changed, but the movement of people continues to link the Caribbean territories to the mainland. Air travel is thus part of a history that predates flight schedules and connecting flights. It serves as a reminder that Caribbean societies have long been shaped by departures, returns, work, and encounters between the islands and the mainland.
A Trial Season for Martinique
For Nathalie Sébastien, Chair of SAMAC’s Executive Board, this service is intended to strengthen tourism, economic, and cultural ties with the Americas. The success of the initiative will be measured by its practical implementation: affordable prices, convenient schedules, seamless connections, and the ability to meet the needs of travelers from Martinique. The first season of Martinique – Panama City will show whether this expansion will be limited to the winter or whether it can become a long-term development. Behind these two weekly flights lies a broader question: Can Martinique regain a more central role in Caribbean and U.S. air travel?
The Route Martinique – Panama City will be offered from December 11, 2026, to March 5, 2027. Air France plans to operate two flights per week departing from Fort-de-France, with a stop in Pointe-à-Pitre. The schedule is subject to the necessary government approvals.
No. Passengers will depart from Martinique Aimé Césaire Airport and make a stop in Pointe-à-Pitre before continuing on to Panama City. It is therefore more accurate to refer to this as a new air route rather than a direct flight.
The announced connecting flights will allow passengers to continue on to Lima, Quito, San José, Guatemala City, Port of Spain, Havana, Santo Domingo, and several other cities in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.
Between people leaving for vacation, families returning home, and visitors arriving, the Martinique Aimé Césaire Airport is going through one of the busiest periods of the year. Through September 6, 2026, enhanced measures are in place to handle the increase in traffic without compromising the quality of service. Behind the lines, security checks, and luggage, another challenge is emerging: preserving the Martinique hospitality that is evident from the very first moments.
Martinique Aimé Césaire Airport: Maintaining a High Standard of Service During the High Season
The peak season began on June 26. According to SAMAC, several hundred thousand passengers are expected to pass through the airport this summer, with traffic projected to exceed last year’s levels. As a result, airlines, ground handling staff, border police, customs officials, and airport crews have stepped up their coordination.
This initiative addresses a clear operational need. It also impacts the region’s image. For some travelers, the airport terminal is their first tangible encounter with Martinique. For others, it marks a return home, a family reunion, or a departure after several weeks on the island. In these emotionally charged moments, providing a warm welcome goes beyond simply moving a line along.
Martinique’s hospitality is also reflected in its educational focus
Since July 9, about ten seasonal workers—easily recognizable by their orange polo shirts—have been assisting passengers upon departure and arrival. Their job seems simple: point out a counter, explain a route, or direct passengers to the right service. Yet, in a busy terminal, this human presence can prevent a great deal of confusion.
At the Martinique Aimé Césaire Airport, so maintaining a welcoming atmosphere means not leaving travelers to navigate procedures on their own. A family with young children, an elderly person, or a passenger in need of assistance does not experience the hustle and bustle in the same way as a frequent flyer. The quality of the welcome is therefore measured by the clarity of the information provided and the ability to reassure passengers.
Arrive four hours early for a more stress-free trip
For international flights, passengers are asked to arrive at least four hours before departure. This time frame is intended to allow passengers to complete check-in, security screening, and border control procedures without undue haste.
Before arriving at the Martinique Aimé Césaire Airport, each passenger should also verify that their documents are valid and review their airline’s baggage policies. Liquids, electronic devices, and prohibited items must be packed in accordance with the guidelines. Travelers who require special assistance are encouraged to contact their airline before departure.
These precautions help ensure that everything runs smoothly for everyone. A missing document, non-compliant luggage, or a late arrival can slow down several steps in the process and add stress to an already hectic time.
The welcome begins before you enter the terminal
SAMAC also urges visitors to respect the designated parking areas. Waiting on access roads or near parking lot entrances and exits can cause significant traffic delays, even extending onto the RN5.
Around the Aimé Césaire Airport in Martinique, so the experience depends on everyone’s behavior. Using the designated parking areas, packing your luggage in advance, and arriving early helps the staff better assist travelers. Hospitality becomes a shared responsibility among the institution, the staff, and the public.
Modernize Without Dehumanizing
SAMAC highlights the investments made in recent years to improve the passenger experience. However, facilities alone are not enough to create a positive experience. Clear signage, well-managed procedures, and appropriate infrastructure are most effective when complemented by attentive staff.
The summer travel rush is thus a real-world test for the Martinique Aimé Césaire Airport. It demonstrates its ability to handle heavy traffic while maintaining the Martinican way of welcoming guests: explaining, guiding, and assisting. In a place where everyone seems to be in a hurry, hospitality is sometimes evident in a simple gesture: not letting anyone figure out their way on their own.
For international flights, SAMAC recommends arriving at the Martinique Aimé Césaire Airport at least four hours before departure. This allows enough time to complete check-in, security screening, and border control procedures.
Enhanced security measures are in place through September 6, 2026. Staff from the airport, airlines, border police, and customs are on duty. About ten seasonal workers wearing orange polo shirts are also helping guide travelers through the terminal.
Travelers should check their documents, pack their luggage according to their airline’s guidelines, and notify the airline in advance if they need assistance. People accompanying travelers should use the designated parking areas to avoid blocking access roads and traffic heading toward the RN5.
In Saint Lucia, during the 51st meeting of CARICOM heads of government, Dr. Hyginus “Gene ” Leon, executive director of DBRP/The Nature Bank, presented an ambitious idea during a side event on reparations: using restorative justice to rethink Caribbean development. Here, the term does not refer solely to financial compensation. It aims to acknowledge the consequences of slavery and colonization, to redress the harm caused, and to transform the mechanisms that continue to perpetuate them.
Four Measures of Development
Development is often measured in terms of growth, investment, and infrastructure. This perspective is incomplete. An economy can build roads, ports, or hotels while at the same time undermining its natural resources, its population, or its institutions. This discussion is based on four forms of wealth. Productive capital includes infrastructure, businesses, and financial resources. Natural capital encompasses soil, forests, water, reefs, and the climate. Human capital encompasses health, education, skills, and dignity. Finally, societal capital relates to institutions, social cohesion, and trust.
Progress requires that these four forms of wealth advance together. When one form of capital develops at the expense of the others, growth becomes fragile. A region can achieve strong economic performance while simultaneously depleting the very foundations that make that prosperity possible.
A Five-Century-Old Economic Error
Restorative justice takes on a broader dimension here. It stems from a historical observation: for centuries, the economic system has assigned a price to produced goods while reducing people and nature to mere resources. The British Emancipation Act of 1833 illustrates this logic. More than 800,000 enslaved people were freed. Yet the 20 million pounds allocated compensated the slaveowners, while the freed people received no compensation. The financial value of property was recognized; the value of human life remained absent from the balance sheet.
This extractive model has not entirely disappeared. Cocoa produced in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire fuels a global industry, while producers and the regions of origin retain only a small share of the value created. Incomes remain low, forests are shrinking, and the bulk of the profits are concentrated elsewhere.
Reparations, Climate, and Inequality: A Common Root
Reparations for slavery, climate-related losses and damages, and the fight against inequality are often addressed separately. Yet these issues stem from the same mistake: counting only part of the actual wealth. In the Caribbean, this contradiction is evident. A mangrove forest may be destroyed to make a project profitable in the short term. Its ability to protect coastlines, limit storm damage, or support fisheries is not always factored into the initial calculations. When disaster strikes, the region must finance reconstruction, often through debt. The value of nature is ignored at the outset, and then its absence becomes a collective burden.
Restorative justice thus links memory, the economy, and the environment. It raises a concrete question: How can we redress a historical injustice without reproducing the same imbalances in current decisions?
Rescue, Rebuild, and Transform
Restorative justice is structured around three stages: relief, reconstruction, and repositioning. The first addresses immediate emergencies. The second restores what has been lost. The third transforms the rules so that the harm is not repeated. This final stage is crucial. Rebuilding a house on the same fault line is tantamount to setting the stage for its next collapse. Similarly, compensation scattered across isolated projects may produce temporary results without addressing the root causes of vulnerability.
Restorative justice could therefore fund additional investments: education, health care, ecosystem protection, resilient infrastructure, strong institutions, and economies capable of retaining more value within the Caribbean region. The goal would be to compensate for a loss while making its recurrence less likely.
Three Possible Changes for CARICOM
Restorative justice offers three avenues for the region. First, every major public or financial decision could assess what it creates and what it destroys in terms of the four forms of wealth. Second, reparations could be organized as a coherent portfolio of reconstruction and transformation. Finally, human and environmental costs could be incorporated into the evaluation of projects, loans, and investments.
Restorative justice would thus shift the focus of the debate. For the Caribbean, making amends for the past could become a way to protect the future, by finally treating people, nature, institutions, and infrastructure as equally valuable.
In this context, restorative justice refers to an approach aimed at acknowledging and addressing the lasting consequences of slavery and colonization. It is not limited to the payment of financial compensation; it also seeks to invest in communities, institutions, the environment, and the economy to ensure that the same inequalities do not continue to be perpetuated.
The four forms of capital are productive capital, which includes infrastructure and businesses; natural capital, such as forests, reefs, and water; human capital, which encompasses health, education, and skills; and societal capital, based on institutions, trust, and social cohesion. Sustainable development requires advancing these four forms of capital together, without enriching one at the expense of the others.
It could help fund a coherent set of initiatives in education, health, ecosystem protection, climate resilience, and infrastructure. It also involves factoring human and environmental costs into financial decisions and assessing what each project creates or destroys. These guidelines were presented to CARICOM as proposals, not as decisions that have already been adopted.
At the CARICOM summit, Martinique did more than just take a new seat. On July 7, 2026, on the sidelines of the meeting held in Saint Lucia, Serge Letchimy and Mia Amor Mottley signed a cooperation agreement between Martinique and Barbados. A concrete goal is taking shape: to transform the Caribbean’s geographical proximity into projects that are monitored, funded, and evaluated.
A first-time participation already focused on action
This signing comes at a special time for Martinique. Having officially become the seventh associate member of CARICOM on June 16, 2026, it was participating for the first time in a Conference of Heads of Government of the regional organization. The agreement with Barbados immediately gives this new phase an operational dimension. It is no longer simply a matter of affirming that Martinique belongs to the Caribbean region. The agreement establishes a bilateral framework for cooperation with a regional neighbor capable of sharing expertise, experiences, and common priorities.
Serge Letchimy sums up this ambition with a clear statement: Martinique is not merely “taking a seat at the table” of CARICOM. It wants to build, propose, and take action. This commitment elevates cooperation beyond a mere diplomatic symbol.
Nine sectors to bring the two regions closer together
The agreement covers nine major areas: cultural and creative industries, sports, education, vocational training, risk management, health, tourism, fisheries, and trade facilitation.
This diversity shows that the relationship we are seeking is not limited to institutions. It directly involves students, artists, athletes, tourism professionals, fishermen, businesses, and healthcare providers.
For young people, this could involve new training programs, skills exchanges, or joint programs. For the cultural sectors, this agreement can build bridges between two neighboring territories that share a regional space but whose languages, administrative systems, and economic networks often remain separate.
Culture as a Tool for Development
The inclusion of the cultural and creative industries among the priorities is by no means secondary. It recognizes culture as an economic sector, a means of regional exchange, and a space for identity-building. Between French-speaking Martinique and English-speaking Barbados, artistic collaborations can also serve as a very concrete way to bridge the gap. Music, film, cultural heritage, visual arts, and digital creation can circulate more easily when institutions organize exchanges, mobilize resources, and oversee projects.
This is where the agreement can take on a truly Caribbean character: not by erasing the differences between the two territories, but by drawing on their unique characteristics to foster new collaborations.
A system designed to deliver results
The agreement provides for a Joint Cooperation Committee, co-chaired by Barbados and the Territorial Collectivity of Martinique. This body will be responsible for defining priorities, approving programs, monitoring their implementation, and reviewing their results. A Technical Secretariat will be responsible for operational oversight. An annual report must detail the actions taken, the resources mobilized, performance indicators, challenges encountered, and the planned program for the following year.
These mechanisms are one of the most important elements of the agreement. Regional cooperation initiatives are often announced with great ambition, but their impact ultimately depends on the timeline, funding, and administrative continuity. By providing for regular evaluations, Martinique and Barbados are demonstrating their commitment to making the relationship measurable—and, above all, to making its effects visible to the populations concerned.
Five years to build a lasting partnership
Signed for five years and renewable, the agreement gives both territories time to develop projects beyond one-off meetings. It also provides a stable framework for their relationship, as Martinique seeks to strengthen its position between the Caribbean, Europe, the Americas, and Africa.
The real test will now begin with the first selected programs. Which projects will be launched first? Which groups will benefit directly? The answer will reveal whether this agreement marks merely a new institutional milestone or the beginning of a partnership capable of bringing about tangible changes in exchanges between Martinique and Barbados.
The agreement establishes a framework for cooperation in nine sectors: cultural and creative industries, sports, education, vocational training, risk management, health, tourism, fisheries, and trade facilitation. It is intended to enable the two territories to develop joint programs and concrete projects.
The cooperation agreement between Martinique and Barbados is valid for a renewable term of five years. This period is intended to allow both partners to launch initiatives, assess their results, and build a lasting relationship that extends beyond one-off institutional meetings.
A Joint Cooperation Committee will set priorities, approve programs, and evaluate results. A Technical Secretariat will provide operational oversight. Each year, a joint report will outline the actions taken, the resources mobilized, the challenges encountered, and the planned program for the following year.
In Saint Lucia, the opening ceremony of the 51st CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting marked Martinique’s first official participation as an associate member, ushering in a new phase in its regional integration.
The first official participation after several years of efforts
The opening ceremony of the 51st Regular Meeting of the CARICOM Conference of Heads of Government, held on July 5 in Saint Lucia, marked a historic milestone for Martinique. For the first time, the territory officially took its seat within the Caribbean Community as an associate member, following the entry into force of its accession on June 16, 2026.
This participation gives concrete substance to a process that has been underway for several years. It follows the signing, on February 20, 2025, in Bridgetown, of the agreement granting Martinique associate member status, and France’s subsequent ratification of the CARICOM Agreement on Privileges and Immunities. This legal step paved the way for the territory’s official participation in the 51st meeting of heads of government, held July 5–8, 2026, in Saint Lucia.
This development is also part of a broader effort by CARICOM to open up to the French territories in the Caribbean and the Amazon. French Guiana, in turn, is expected to take a decisive step forward with the anticipated signing of its accession agreement on July 7.
Major Regional Challenges Take Center Stage at the 51st Meeting
Gathered under the theme “CARICOM : From Resilience to Renewal in a Changing World,” the heads of government focused their discussions on the region’s major contemporary challenges: security, climate change, economic integration, free movement, food security, youth, institutional cooperation, digital transformation, and strengthening the Caribbean Single Market.
Serge Letchimy: “Now we need to take action”
For Serge Letchimy, president of the Executive Council of the Territorial Collectivity of Martinique, this moment goes far beyond mere protocol. It marks the culmination of a long political, institutional, and diplomatic journey, but above all, the beginning of a new regional responsibility.
“It took many years for us to be accepted into CARICOM. This shows how difficult it is to belong to two different groups. But today, we’re there,” he said in Saint Lucia. “This isn’t about celebrating it as an achievement. It’s just the beginning. Now we have to take action. We need businesses, funding, and investments to come in.”
Dual Identity as a Strategic Lever for Martinique
Martinique’s accession to CARICOM opens up an unprecedented prospect: that of a territory capable of reconciling its membership in the French Republic and the European Union with a more active presence in its natural geographic region, the Caribbean. For Serge Letchimy, this dual affiliation can become a strategic asset, provided it is viewed as a strength rather than a constraint.
“Belonging to two markets at the same time—the CARICOM market and the European Union market—is something exceptional,” he emphasized. He also stressed the need for the French territories in the Caribbean and the Amazon to better adapt to the new reality of regional multilateralism: “Simply belonging to Europe isn’t enough to solve the problem. Europe is very far away. Today, relations are organized regionally by basin: the Pacific basin, the Atlantic basin, and the Caribbean basin. If you’re not part of this new dimension, you’re in big trouble.”
Terrance Drew Advocates for a Stronger Caribbean Through Unity
For the Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Dr. Terrance Drew, outgoing chair of CARICOM, Martinique’s accession illustrates the organization’s core mission: to bring together the countries and territories of the Caribbean around a concrete integration project that serves the people. He reiterated that CARICOM is founded on a fundamental belief: the region is stronger when it acts together.
“We are convinced that we are stronger together,” he said. “CARICOM has made it possible to create institutions that would have been difficult for each country to establish on its own, but which now benefit the entire region.”
Prime Minister Drew specifically cited the Regional Security System, the Caribbean Development Bank, and the various regional institutions that enable member states and territories to pool their resources, strengthen their resilience, and address common challenges. According to him, Martinique’s accession also opens up immediate trade opportunities by providing the territory with more structured access to an expanded regional market.
Philip J. Pierre Wants to Drive CARICOM Toward Results
This vision aligns with the direction set by the new CARICOM chair, Philip J. Pierre, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia. In his opening remarks, he called for a CARICOM that is more visible, more effective, and more directly connected to the daily lives of its citizens. In his view, regional integration can no longer be limited to official statements; it must produce concrete results.
“CARICOM must move from conference rooms to communities, from rhetoric to reality, from press releases to results,” he said. He also noted that the region’s citizens expect tangible responses from CARICOM on security, the cost of living, mobility, employment, climate, energy, and opportunities for younger generations.
Expanded integration in Martinique and French Guiana
In this context, Martinique’s participation and the upcoming accession of French Guiana give new significance to CARICOM’s expansion. They reflect the desire for a more integrated Caribbean, capable of moving beyond institutional and linguistic legacies to address common challenges: climate change, supply chains, regional security, food sovereignty, economic development, talent mobility, and cooperation with Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
Turning political recognition into concrete projects
For Martinique, the challenge now is to turn this political recognition into concrete projects. Serge Letchimy spoke of the need to devise a new economic mechanism capable of making Martinique a hub for development and a connecting point between Africa, the Americas, Europe, and the Caribbean.
“We are rediscovering the Caribbean as our shared home,” he said. “A door has been opened. It truly exists. Now we must make use of it.”
A New Chapter for French Caribbean Territories
With Martinique now at the table and French Guiana set to join CARICOM in turn, a new chapter is beginning for French Caribbean territories. This development does not call into question their affiliation with France and the European Union; on the contrary, it gives them additional capacity for action, cooperation, and influence within their immediate regional environment.
In Saint Lucia, the message from Caribbean leaders is clear: in a world marked by geopolitical tensions, climate vulnerabilities, and economic shifts, the Caribbean must strengthen its unity, expand its cooperation, and make regional integration a concrete tool for development.
For Martinique—and tomorrow for French Guiana—the challenge now is to bring this sense of Caribbean identity to life in practice: through economic exchanges, cooperation projects, mobility initiatives, institutional partnerships, investments, and opportunities offered to the people.
Martinique officially became an associate member of CARICOM on June 16, 2026. This came into effect after France submitted the instrument of accession required for the implementation of the agreement on the privileges and immunities of the regional organization.
This status allows Martinique to participate in certain CARICOM meetings and bodies, to take part in discussions within its areas of competence, and to propose regional cooperation programs. In particular, it can strengthen its cooperation in areas such as health, education, tourism, climate, research, and risk management. However, it does not have voting rights and does not become a full member.
The meeting, held from July 5 to 8, 2026, in Saint Lucia, marks Martinique’s first participation in the Conference of Heads of Government under its new official status as an associate member. This participation gives concrete meaning to its membership and ushers in a new phase, during which Martinique will need to translate its institutional status into projects and cooperative initiatives that are visible to the public.
In the Caribbean, a high energy bill can slow down a business. A storm can cut off a road, block a port, or jeopardize a harvest. A security crisis can also extend beyond the borders of a single country. It is against this daily reality that the Canada-CARICOM dialogue is taking on a new dimension today.
Meeting in Panama City on the sidelines of the 2026 General Assembly of the Organization of American States, the foreign ministers of Canada and CARICOM sought to reinvigorate their strategic partnership. At the heart of their discussions was an action plan focused on three major priorities for the region: security, climate, and the economy.
Cooperation Aimed at Achieving Concrete Results
The Canada-CARICOM partnership builds on the strategic agreement launched in 2023. But the 2026 meeting marks an important milestone: both parties now want to move forward with a plan that is more specific, clearer, and more measurable.
The goal is not merely to demonstrate diplomatic closeness. It is to establish priorities, timelines, and funding mechanisms capable of producing results. For Caribbean countries, this clarity matters. The region faces a range of interrelated challenges: energy costs, climate-related disasters, maritime security, financial vulnerability, and the crisis in Haiti. The Caribbean is not merely asking for aid. It is seeking partners capable of understanding its realities and working alongside it for the long term.
Security: A Regional Emergency
Security is central to this new Canada-CARICOM plan. The ministers discussed transnational crime, gangs, irregular migration, maritime security, and illicit flows. For the region, these issues are not isolated. The sea serves as a link, but it is also an area of vulnerability. Trafficking, criminal networks, cyberthreats, and political crises sometimes spread faster than institutional responses can keep up.
Canada already supports certain regional initiatives through capacity building, targeted interventions, and operational partnerships. The new challenge is to move toward a more coordinated response: better protecting maritime areas, strengthening institutions, sharing relevant information, and limiting the influence of criminal networks.
Haiti: A Crisis That Affects the Entire Caribbean
Haiti is a major focus of the discussions. The political, security, and humanitarian crisis the country is facing has direct consequences for the region. In particular, the ministers highlighted the risks associated with drug and arms trafficking. Support for the Gang Suppression Force was among the topics discussed. This force is intended to help restore security on the ground, with a mandate set to be renewed by the United Nations Security Council.
But the response cannot be limited to security measures alone. The ministers also reaffirmed the right of Haitians to choose their own government. They support the holding of credible elections as soon as conditions permit, as well as efforts to combat corruption and impunity. Haiti serves as a powerful reminder: no lasting stability in the Caribbean can be achieved by leaving a country to face such a profound crisis on its own.
Climate and the Economy: Two Sides of the Same Challenge
The new Canada-CARICOM plan also clearly links climate and the economy. In the Caribbean, a natural disaster is never just a weather event. It affects families, businesses, roads, schools, ports, and public finances. Access to reliable and affordable energy is once again a priority. Overly expensive energy stifles innovation and puts a strain on households. A more stable energy supply can support industry, services, investment, and the transition to more sustainable models.
Trade is also part of the equation. The CARIBCAN program, which grants duty-free access to the Canadian market for most products originating in 18 Caribbean Commonwealth countries and territories, remains an important tool. It serves as a reminder that the Canada-CARICOM partnership is not just about diplomacy. It also encompasses economic opportunities, supply chains, and the ability of Caribbean businesses to expand beyond their local markets.
Greater Attention to the Caribbean's Vulnerability
Another key aspect of the Canada-CARICOM partnership concerns financing. Several Caribbean states are considered middle-income countries. Yet their vulnerability to climate-related disasters, economic shocks, and supply disruptions remains very high. This is one of the region’s major paradoxes. On paper, some countries appear too “advanced” to easily access concessional financing. In reality, a single crisis can undermine years of progress.
The ministers therefore emphasized the need to reform the international financial architecture. The idea is simple: the actual vulnerability of small states must be taken into account more fully—not just their average income.
A plan to follow closely
The coming months will be crucial. Officials still need to finalize the details of the action plan, identify priority initiatives, develop an implementation schedule, and strengthen monitoring efforts. A dialogue among senior officials is scheduled for the fall to advance this work.
The Canada-CARICOM partnership alone will not solve the Caribbean’s challenges. But it says something about the current moment: the region wants to be heard as a strategic area, not just as a vulnerable one. Now the real question remains: Will this new plan bring about visible changes for Caribbean people, businesses, and territories?
The new Canada-CARICOM plan is a roadmap designed to strengthen cooperation between Canada and the Caribbean Community. It is based on three priorities: more resilient economies, climate action, and regional security. The goal is to move from a diplomatic partnership to more concrete actions, with timelines, measurable results, and sustainable financing mechanisms.
Haiti is a key focus because its political, security, and humanitarian crises have repercussions for the entire region. The ministers discussed drug and arms trafficking, support for the Gang Suppression Force, and the right of Haitians to choose their own government. For CARICOM, Haiti’s stability therefore remains a regional issue, not just a national one.
The Canada-CARICOM Partnership directly links climate and the economy. It emphasizes access to reliable and affordable energy, the development of trade, the strengthening of supply chains, and access to financing tailored to the vulnerabilities of small Caribbean states. The goal is to enable the region to better withstand natural disasters, economic shocks, and international crises.
Exhibiting at the Jardin du Luxembourg is often a major milestone in an artist’s career. For artist Cécile Vernant, it is above all an opportunity to connect with the public. From July 17 to 28, 2026, she will present *Man Mélé!* at the Senate’s Orangerie, as part of the Luxembourg Garden Summer Festival. For twelve days, she will personally welcome visitors to this iconic venue at the heart of Parisian cultural life.
Selected following the 2026 call for projects, the artist will have 152 m² to showcase her artistic world, where painting, photography, drawing, and ceramics interact freely. After being selected by the Senate, Cécile Vernant reached out to Didier on her own initiative, without having had any prior contact with the company. This choice came naturally: from the brand’s production site, the view takes in the Carbet peaks, a Martinican landscape that runs through her work just as much as Mount Pelée does. She also received a creative grant from the Académie des Beaux-Arts – Institut de France, awarded by artist members of the academy. This recognition deeply moved her: “I literally cried with joy,” she confides.
Man Mélé!, Multiple States in a Single Title
You can’t reduce Man Mélé! to a single translation. In Martinican Creole, the expression captures the nuances of emotion: it can mean “I’m frustrated” when faced with choosing from dozens of works, but also “I’m overwhelmed,” “I’m in love,” “I’m torn,” or even “I’m spellbound.” To officially introduce the exhibition, the artist ultimately chose this last phrase: “I’m spellbound!”
This sense of enchantment has its roots in Martinique, the land of his childhood and the emotional wellspring of his entire body of work. The island is present everywhere: in the softness of the morning light, the memory of rain on tin roofs, the intertwining vines, abandoned buildings, and even the inner landscapes nourished by memory.
Paintings, drawings, photographs, and ceramics interact there “without any hierarchy.” The works engage in a dialogue with one another like so many visual “exquisite corpses,” following an intuitive logic in which each creation gives rise to the next. Cécile Vernant embraces an instinctive practice, fueled by automatic writing, spontaneous drawing, and free modeling, building on the experiments she discovered during her high school years in Fort-de-France.
From “Luco” to the Martinique of My Childhood
With Untitled Luco V, from the collection Caribbean Childhood, Cécile Vernant weaves a dialogue between Paris and Martinique. The “ti points, ti croix” that run throughout the work pay homage to Ms. Mible, her art teacher at Bellevue High School in Fort-de-France. She was a teacher who encouraged her students to prioritize boldness, emotion, and the present moment, always ready to support her students and bring out the potential in each of them.
The title also echoes “Luco,” the affectionate nickname Parisians have given the Jardin du Luxembourg. It’s the artist’s way of bringing together the place that hosts Man Mélé! and the formative memories of her creative journey. Presented with a bright red mat, the work builds a delicate bridge between several intimate landscapes.
Untitled Luco V This is not an isolated case, by the way. The titles of these works shift freely between French, Creole, Spanish, and Portuguese. La Perla reflects this linguistic fluidity, which is fueled as much by travel and the languages she has studied as by the music that accompanies the artist in her creative process.
A painting that doesn't reveal itself at first glance
Untitled No. 49 summarizes several characteristics of Cécile Vernant’s work. In it, the artist depicts a blurred boundary between sky and earth, a cut-off tree stump, the rabbit from *Alice in Wonderland* sitting with its paws dangling in midair, a campfire from a Western, a hill, and even waterfalls. These are all forms that gradually emerge, reminding us that every viewer’s gaze can bring forth a different story.
At the outset, the artist never knows exactly which direction the canvas will take. The rhythm of the brushstrokes and the degrees of dilution guide the composition. The work is then set aside: Cécile Vernant observes it, walks around it, and may even turn it over before continuing her work. Crisp incisions, gradients, texture sometimes worked with the fingers, and localized varnishes thus multiply the levels of perception. Depending on the area, these varnishes evoke rain, a rock made slippery by water, or even the movement of a current on the surface.
This approach sheds light on what the artist calls “deconstructing figuration.” In the absence of an immediately recognizable landscape, no single interpretation is definitively imposed. The vertical format of Untitled No. 99 is part of this same exploration, drawing inspiration from vines, the natural landscape of northern Martinique, and certain architectural forms, without ever confining the work to a single interpretation.
Reinterpreting the image, letting the material transform the work
The two versions of the Caribbean illustrate how Cécile Vernant constantly reinvents her own creations. The first was photographed in overcast light; the second, in bright sunlight, before being reworked with acrylic paint directly on Japanese paper. Light, material, and manual intervention thus bring forth two evolving landscapes from a single image.
Japanese paper plays a key role in this transformation. Its fibers showcase the artisans’ craftsmanship and reveal what the artist calls “the soul of the paper.” In The Gates of Paradise, this medium also connects to a more personal story. Following the sudden passing of a loved one, Cécile Vernant returned to the visual arts, using the materials left behind by that person—materials she continues to use today. In her ceramic work, she also creates impressions of objects that belonged to people she loved. For the artist, these traces give the work “a kind of soul” and perpetuate a connection that transforms and travels as it moves from one home to another.
However, this connection to Japan did not begin with that trip in 2007. As a child, the artist would receive postcards depicting snow-capped Mount Fuji and imagine that snow could also cover Mount Pelée. His stay in Japan reinforced these intimate connections between islands, volcanoes, cyclones, and the invisible bonds that unite the departed with the living.
From mutant species to “Mega Kiki” microformats
Her ceramics reflect this passion for transformation and invention. In her work, Cécile Vernant brings to life hybrid forms inspired by the marine world. The recurring presence of corals stems from a childhood memory: after cyclones, she would collect fragments found along the shoreline in her bedroom, so they wouldn’t be left alone. In her creations, these elements become imaginary species, somewhere between underwater fauna and fantastical creatures.
The set design for *Man Mélé!* will also play on changes in scale. The microformats in the series Mega Kiki, some measuring as little as 12 × 12 cm, will be displayed alongside large-format works. This is a way of inviting visitors to constantly shift their perspective, by stepping closer or taking a step back. Fishing nets and colorful ropes will also punctuate the exhibition route.
An exhibition open to all visitors
While Cécile Vernant fully embraces her place within the contemporary art world, she is wary of discourses that confine works to a single interpretation. For her, personal experience must always have its place.
This conviction took hold as she met more people. At a previous exhibition, a visitor refused to enter, claiming he knew nothing about art. “That’s just as well—neither do I,” she replied, before inviting him to explore the works. Another visitor, who had achromatopsia, described the paintings not in terms of color but in terms of sensations of warmth. These experiences remind the artist that there is no such thing as good or bad taste, but rather a multitude of sensibilities.
Recognition of Cécile Vernant ’s work extends beyond France’s borders: her photography Paradise for Fishermen has been selected for an international group exhibition in Crete, scheduled for July 2026. The artist will be present every day at the Senate’s Orangery to share her artistic vision and interact with visitors.
What will everyone see in *Man Mélé*!? Cécile Vernant prefers to leave the answer open. For the artist, a work of art never reveals itself fully: it is discovered, felt, and reinvented through the eyes of the viewer.
Practical information
Man Mélé ! will take place from July 17 to 28, 2026, at the Orangerie du Sénat in the Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris. “Man Mélé!” will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission is free through the Férou gate at 19 bis rue de Vaugirard in the 6th arrondissement.
Cécile Vernant’s exhibition *Man Mélé!* will be held from July 17 to 28, 2026, at the Orangerie du Sénat in the Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris. It will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission is free through the Férou gate at 19 bis rue de Vaugirard in the 6th arrondissement.
“Man Mélé!” will feature paintings, drawings, photographs, and ceramics by Cécile Vernant. In this exhibition, the artist will create a dialogue among various media, formats, and artistic languages, exploring themes of Martinique, memory, childhood, and the transformation of landscapes. The exhibition will feature, among other works, mutating prints, vertical works, imaginary ceramics, and the microformats from the series Mega Kiki.
For Cécile Vernant, “Man Mélé!” has several meanings. The expression can convey the idea of being annoyed, thrown off balance, in love, spellbound, or confused. The artist particularly emphasizes the idea of being spellbound to express her attachment to Martinique and the emotions that run through her work.
From December 5, 2026, to April 4, 2027, the MSC World Europa will come alive to the rhythms of French Caribbean islands music with the Zouk@Sea by MSC festival. For its third edition, eighteen weeks of musical entertainment will take place on sailings departing from Fort-de-France and Pointe-à-Pitre, featuring artists, live bands, and DJs from Martinique and Guadeloupe. The lineup brings a variety of French Caribbean islands musical styles aboard an international cruise ship: zouk, compas, Creole traditions, urban music, cadence, dancehall, shatta, soca, and DJ sets.
A different lineup every week
Zouk@Sea by MSC operates on a simple principle: each week, an artist, band, or DJ performs on the cruise. Departures are scheduled for Saturdays from Fort-de-France and Sundays from Pointe-à-Pitre. The season will kick off on December 5 and 6, 2026, with SOS Kantik and a lineup dedicated to Chanté Nwèl. Silonvan will take over on December 12 and 13, followed by DJ Raptor on December 19 and 20, and then DJ Moulinex on December 26 and 27.
In January 2027, La Finekip is scheduled for January 2 and 3, followed by Emosyon on January 9 and 10. Misié Sadik, Jessye Belleval, and Zouk’n Groove will take the stage on January 16 and 17. The following weekend, on January 23 and 24, Kwaxikolor will share the stage with Jocelyne Béroard. Thierry Lof and C’Zigla will close out the month on January 30 and 31.
Jocelyne Béroard and Several Generations of Zouk
Jocelyne Béroard’s participation gives this third edition a particularly intergenerational dimension. With Kwaxikolor, the artist—who is closely associated with the history of the group Kassav’—will perform a repertoire rooted in the legacy of zouk. Misié Sadik, Jessye Belleval, and Zouk’n Groove will blend urban sounds, Creole music, and contemporary zouk. While the festival’s name highlights zouk, the lineup extends far beyond this genre.
February: Live Shows, Birthdays, and DJ Sets
DJ Fab will kick off February with shows on February 6 and 7. Kaf Kon’s will follow on February 13 and 14 with an acoustic set featuring Creole covers, audience interaction, and a festive atmosphere. On February 20 and 21, Tanmpo Klassik Live will celebrate its tenth anniversary. DJ Stonekilla & Friends will then take the stage on February 27 and 28.
From Jean-Michel Galva to MKG to close out the season
March will once again bring together a variety of musical styles. Jean-Michel Galva & Koezyon are scheduled to perform on March 6 and 7 with a repertoire blending zouk, cadence, and traditional French Caribbean islands influences. Maty will take the stage the week of March 13 and 14, followed by DJ Raptor & Friends on March 20 and 21. Jean-Marc Ferdinand, billed as a true French Caribbean islands party starter, will perform on the departures on March 27 and 28. MKG will wrap up the lineup on the cruises on April 3 and 4, 2027. However, the schedule is subject to change. The official poster notes that certain artists may be replaced or absent without prior notice.
The MSC World Europa Deployed to the French Caribbean islands
This third edition coincides with the deployment of the MSC World Europa to the French West Indies during the winter of 2026–2027. The ship will depart from Fort-de-France and Pointe-à-Pitre, two ports that will play a central role in this season. MSC Cruises is presenting this initiative as a way to strengthen its regional presence. According to figures released by the company, the French Caribbean islands welcomes 43% of the world’s cruise passengers and accounts for 36% of global cruise capacity.
These figures position Zouk@Sea by MSC within a sector where the region already plays a major role. But the project’s cultural significance lies elsewhere: in the opportunity it offers artists from Martinique and Guadeloupe to perform each week in a venue frequented by travelers from diverse backgrounds. Patrick Pourbaix, CEO of MSC Cruises France, explains that the goal is to transform every cruise into “a true celebration of the French Caribbean islands way of life.” The musical program thus becomes a central part of the onboard experience.
A mobile showcase for French Caribbean islands scenes
For passengers, Zouk@Sea by MSC will combine French Caribbean islands port calls with concerts, live performances, and musical evenings. For the featured artists, the ship offers a stage that’s different from the festivals, venues, and events typically held on land. The project, however, raises a broader question. Can an onboard program become a genuine vehicle for promoting Caribbean music, rather than just entertainment tied to the trip?
For eighteen weeks, the MSC World Europa will host Christmas traditions, zouk artists, live bands, and DJs. From SOS Kantik to MKG, this season will above all showcase the diverse French Caribbean islands music scene, which is able to preserve its heritage while showcasing its most contemporary sounds.
Zouk@Sea by MSC is a music festival at sea organized by MSC Cruises aboard the MSC World Europa. For its third edition, the event will feature a different artist, live band, or DJ from Martinique or Guadeloupe each week. The lineup will showcase a variety of Caribbean musical styles, including zouk, compas, Chanté Nwèl, cadence, dancehall, shatta, soca, and Creole urban music.
The Zouk@Sea by MSC season will run from December 5, 2026, to April 4, 2027. Cruises will depart every Saturday from Fort-de-France, Martinique, and every Sunday from Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe. A different musical lineup will feature each week aboard the MSC World Europa. However, announced artists are subject to change or cancellation without notice.
The lineup will feature SOS Kantik for the Chanté Nwèl, Silonvan, La Finekip, Emosyon, Misié Sadik, Jessye Belleval & Zouk’n Groove, Kwaxikolor feat. Jocelyne Béroard, Thierry Lof & C’Zigla, Kaf Kon’s, Jean-Michel Galva & Koezyon, Maty, Jean-Marc Ferdinand, and MKG. Tanmpo Klassik Live will also celebrate its tenth anniversary on board. Several DJs will be participating in the season, including DJ Raptor, DJ Moolinexx, DJ Fab, and DJ Stonekilla & Friends.
On June 21, 2026, the streets, squares, and cultural venues of Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French Guiana hosted concerts, open-mic nights, and musical gatherings. In these three territories, the Music Festival took on different forms, drawing on local repertoires and featuring both amateur and professional artists.
The 45th Music Festival, open to everyone
Created in 1982 at the initiative of Jack Lang, Maurice Fleuret, and Christian Dupavillon, the Music Festival celebrated its 45th edition this year. Its purpose remains the same: to showcase live music, bring together music lovers and professionals, and offer free concerts on June 21. The event is now celebrated in more than a hundred countries.
In France’s Caribbean and Amazonian territories, this common framework is reinterpreted in light of local realities. Zouk, gwoka, biguine, reggae, Creole jazz, percussion, urban music, and South American influences can all come together in a single program. This diversity does not turn the three territories into a uniform whole. Rather, it shows how each one adapts a national event to its own music scenes, languages, and musical trends.
In Martinique, a route connecting the city center and the neighborhoods
In Fort-de-France, the city had announced a musical route designed to bring artists and the public together between the city center and various neighborhoods. The city’s call for participation also involved volunteers in the organization, in keeping with the event’s participatory spirit.
Across the island, the program spanned several municipalities and, in some cases, lasted the entire weekend. At Schœlcher, the Village Musical featured more than 200 artists spread across seven venues. Gospel, reggae, salsa, percussion, traditional music, DJ sets, and urban music were among the offerings. This juxtaposition of generations and musical styles illustrates one of the strengths of the Music Festival: creating a shared stage without imposing a dominant genre.
In Guadeloupe, Musical Heritage Takes Center Stage
In Pointe-à-Pitre, the program featured a special edition of the Marché de Kalina, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Place de la Victoire, celebrating Guadeloupean culture and traditions, with artistic performances. The event was therefore more of a cultural and musical celebration than a large evening concert.
Elsewhere in the archipelago, the programs gave prominent coverage to Guadeloupe’s musical heritage. In Le Moule, the two-day program featured a meeting with Pierre-Édouard Décimus and Maalkhéma, an event centered on the ka, an open mic, as well as zouk, biguine, jazz, and gospel. This lineup serves as a reminder that the Music Festival can also convey musical history, showcase the region’s instruments, and bridge the gap between heritage and contemporary creation.
In French Guiana, open-air venues between the city and the Amazon
In French Guiana, the Music Festival took on several forms. In Cayenne, a number of events took place in public spaces. An open-mic stage was scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. on Place des Chaînes Brisées, followed by another event on Place des Palmistes starting at 6 p.m. featuring several DJs. The Kayenn’Art festival, held at La Poudrière over the weekend, also combined visual arts, local creations, and musical performances.
These proposals reflect a unique soundscape. Guyanese music is shaped by its interaction with Creole, Bushinengue, Surinamese, Brazilian, and Caribbean musical traditions. However, we must avoid reducing these exchanges to a single border or a single genre: they follow migration patterns, languages, media, artistic collaborations, and the history of the Guiana Shield.
Why does the Music Festival remain accessible?
Free admission remains one of the defining features of the Music Festival. This does not mean that every event can be organized without rules or coordination. Municipalities issue calls for participation, designate venues, and oversee the setup. However, public access to the concerts included in the program remains free.
When it comes to ticketed cultural events, this principle fosters a different relationship with the stage. The audience can move from one venue to another, listen to an unknown band, or stop by an open mic without having to buy a ticket. This accessibility fosters encounters, even if it is not, on its own, sufficient to measure the cultural success of a festival.
The 2026 Music Festival was officially held on June 21, with some events taking place over several days during the weekend. This 45th edition featured concerts, open-air stages, and cultural events in several towns across Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French Guiana.
In Martinique, Fort-de-France offered a musical tour connecting the city center with the neighborhoods, while Schœlcher featured more than 200 artists across seven venues. In Guadeloupe, the Kalina Market in Pointe-à-Pitre and the activities organized in Le Moule highlighted local cultures. In French Guiana, Cayenne hosted open-air stages at the Chaînes Brisées and Palmistes squares, as well as the Kayenn’Art festival at La Poudrière.
The Music Festival allows amateur and professional artists to perform for free in public spaces. In Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French Guiana, it also highlights local and regional musical genres, such as zouk, gwoka, biguine, reggae, percussion, urban music, and Amazonian influences.
Organized by the Caribbean Chamber of Commerce in Europe (CCCE), the second edition of Caribbean Days brought together various expressions of Caribbean culture at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. Over the course of four days, the event provided a forum for dialogue on regional cooperation, sustainable tourism, and economic relations between the Caribbean and Europe.
A Caribbean-style restaurant with a view of Paris
On the roof of UNESCO, Caribbean chefs from the association Les Toques françaises are preparing a three-course Caribbean menu. From the restaurant, guests can see the Eiffel Tower, Les Invalides, and the Left Bank. This scene captures the spirit of the Caribbean Days : to showcase the Caribbean through its creative works and craftsmanship, and then use this cultural presence to foster broader exchanges.
The Caribbean Chamber of Commerce in Europe (CCCE) organized this second edition as part of Latin American and Caribbean Week. Under the theme “Peace, Diversity, and Sustainability,” the event brought together representatives from the cultural, institutional, diplomatic, and economic sectors.
Over the course of four days, the program featured the visual arts, gastronomy, fashion, film, literature, poetry, music, and dance. These disciplines showcased various facets of Caribbean creativity in a venue dedicated to education, science, culture, and heritage.
Creative Industries Take Center Stage
The Caribbean Days highlighted the creative industries as one of the region’s strengths. Cuisine, fashion, film, storytelling, music, and dance served as points of connection between different regions and sectors.
This diversity brought together Caribbean ambassadors, other diplomats, representatives from the public sector, and private-sector stakeholders. Culture thus provided a common framework for discussions on development, investment, and partnerships.
Founded in November 2019, the CCCE’s mission is to facilitate exchanges between the Greater Caribbean and Europe. It also seeks to encourage European investment in the region’s sustainable economic development. In Paris, this mission has taken the form of meetings between institutions, businesses, and Caribbean representatives.
Regional Cooperation Over Lunch
A luncheon discussion focused on cooperation between France’s overseas territories in the Caribbean and CARIFORUM member states. Representatives from the Bank of France, Expertise France, and the OECD gave presentations.
The remarks by French Senator Micheline Jacques, who supports an economic partnership between France’s overseas territories and Haiti, refocused the debate on a concrete question: How can we strengthen ties among the various parts of the Caribbean region?
Through this event, the Caribbean Days brought culture, diplomacy, and the economy closer together. Gastronomy was not merely a backdrop; it served as a framework for dialogue on potential areas of cooperation and on the Caribbean’s role in its relations with Europe.
Sustainable Tourism in the Face of Climate Change
A roundtable discussion was held on sustainable tourism. Geoffrey Lipman, former president of the World Travel and Tourism Council and former deputy secretary-general of the World Tourism Organization, participated alongside Florian Valmy-Desvillers, director of business development for the Caribbean Tourism Organization in the United Kingdom and Europe.
Jo Spalburg, Secretary General of the CCCE, summarized the main message of these discussions. According to him, the acceleration of climate change makes it necessary to develop tourism that is more sustainable and more beneficial to local communities. These communities play a direct role in protecting the region’s natural and cultural heritage for future generations.
This reflection gives the Caribbean Days a specific scope. It links the promotion of Caribbean destinations to the responsibility of preserving what attracts visitors: landscapes, cultural heritage, cultural practices, and local knowledge.
From Cultural Visibility to Partnerships
As this second edition comes to a close, the CCCE is highlighting a collective goal: to transform cultural visibility into collaborations, innovation, and sustainable growth for the region.
The Caribbean Days have shown that culture can foster dialogue among diplomats, institutions, businesses, and creative professionals. What happens next will depend on the ability of the partners gathered in Paris to turn these exchanges into concrete partnerships that benefit Caribbean regions and communities.
Caribbean Days, also known as Journées des Caraïbes, is an event organized by the Caribbean Chamber of Commerce in Europe at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. Over the course of four days, the second edition of the event showcased the visual arts, gastronomy, fashion, film, literature, poetry, music, and dance. The event took place under the theme “Peace, Diversity, and Sustainability,” as part of Latin American and Caribbean Week.
Caribbean Days is organized by the Caribbean Chamber of Commerce in Europe (CCCE). Founded in November 2019, this organization seeks to facilitate exchanges between the Greater Caribbean and Europe, while encouraging European investment in the region’s sustainable economic development. In Paris, the CCCE brought together representatives from the cultural, diplomatic, institutional, and economic sectors to discuss Caribbean culture and challenges.
Caribbean Days combined the promotion of creative industries with discussions on regional cooperation and sustainable tourism. A luncheon forum focused on relations between France’s overseas territories in the Caribbean and CARIFORUM member states. A roundtable discussion also addressed the effects of climate change and the need to develop more sustainable tourism that better benefits local communities working to protect the region’s natural and cultural heritage.
