Prime Minister Hon. Philip J. Pierre, welcomed Mr. Gérald Darmanin, Minister for the Interior and Overseas Territories of the Republic of France, and his delegation which included President Serge Letchimy and the Prefect of Martinique, Mr. Jean Christophe Bouvier to Saint Lucia for discussions aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
The meeting held March 15, 2024 focused on the key areas of security, health, and education.
On the matter of security, discussions focused on increasing security measures between Saint Lucia and Martinique, which would require stronger collaboration between the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force and French Security Forces, including the Gendarmerie, Navy, and National Police.
Plans were detailed for the establishment of a Canine Unit with full financial support for training and procurement of the canine and its handler by the Republic of France.
As it relates to health cooperation, both parties reiterated their dedication to improving healthcare services in Saint Lucia through partnerships with medical institutions in Martinique and Guadeloupe.
Discussions included efforts to address outstanding debt owed to the French Government / Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Martinique (CHUM).
Prime Minister Pierre and Health Minister Hon. Moses Jn. Baptiste emphasised their gratitude to the government of Martinique for its involvement in providing healthcare to Saint Lucian citizens and expressed a desire for further collaboration, including the training of nurses and the rebuilding of St. Jude Hospital.
Plans for joint ventures to introduce new technologies in healthcare were also on the agenda.
Serge Letchimy, President of the Executive Council of Martinique, highlighted progress in OECS and CARICOM integration.
He emphasized territorial diplomacy and proposes enhanced health collaboration, expanded education initiatives, and cultural preservation efforts.
Letchimy calls for intensified cooperation in agriculture, research, and security, emphasizing the importance of addressing insecurity for a shared future.
Furthermore, he strongly suggested the need for more frequent meetings and an international one on security.
Prime Minister Hon. Philip J. Pierre, Minister for Health, Wellness, and Elderly Affairs, Hon. Moses Jn. Baptiste, and Minister for External Affairs, International Trade, Civil Aviation, and Diaspora Affairs, Hon. Alva Baptiste, expressed gratitude for the fruitful discussions and underscored the significance of cooperation between Saint Lucia, France and French over-seas territories in addressing shared challenges and advancing mutual interests.
SOURCE: Office of the Prime Minister
All that, very good news and very good for our future !
I will always support our sister islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe , including the rest of the Caribbean in the spirit of unity , collaboration and integration. But I will also advocate self sufficiency. Why in the 21 at century Saint Lucians have to pay high air fares and medical bills to fly to Martinique for medical care….why hasn’t the government put in place the medical and surgical specialities that are found in Martinique made available in Saint Lucia?….this has been going on for decades…we should by now have these expertise on home soil…cause time is of the essence and flying to Martinique is time wasted …plus the money spent in Martinique could have stayed in Saint Lucia… Already Saint Lucia owe Martinique a huge bill for medical surgical assistance….21st century and we don’t have a university in Saint lucia…..again we have visionless leaders who have failed the people… sitting on their derrieres not making quick enough progress on national development….
Surprised the loud mouth SLP Minister of Tout Barguy not there in the photo ops!
When will Saint Lucia postal service restore service to FRANCE?