The Department of Home Affairs and National Security hosted the seventh session of the Franco-Saint Lucian Joint Security Committee on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019.

The Franco-Saint Lucia Security Commission came about on March 5, 2004 in order to organize cooperation between the two neighboring islands of Saint Lucia and Martinique. The Committee was formed to provide a link with the government of Saint Lucia, the Embassy of France in Castries, and the Prefecture of the Region Martinique in Fort de France. The objectives include organizing and addressing shared issues relating to maritime security, extraditions, human and drug trafficking, natural disasters, risk management, and the promotion of judicial cooperation.

Minister for Home Affairs, Justice and National Security Senator the Honourable Hermangild Francis said Saint Lucia needed to discuss a number of priority issues with the French. Among the subject matters to be discussed are safety at sea, immigration and border control, and judicial cooperation.

The meeting was held at the Finance Administrative Center in Pointe Seraphine.