Current CARICOM Chairman and St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves and Martinique Regional Council President Serge Letchimy. Photo: OPRM

The French Caribbean department first began the process of applying for membership in the summer of 2012.

Letchimy’s visit represents the first time a president of the island’s regional council has been invited to speak at the Conference of Heads of State and Government.

Martinique has already attained similar status in a number of regional blocs, most recently the Association of Caribbean States, along with the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean.

In a statement, Letchimy said his visit to Martinique was aimed at “defending the application of Martinique as an associate member of CARICOM.”

CARICOM currently has five associate members: Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

In a statement on social media, Letchimy called the visit “an advancement for Martinique.”