The CARO Centre has been established as part of the OHADAC-CARO project, led by ACP Legal and co-financed by the Interreg Caribbean 2021-2027 programme, with the support of the European Union and the French Development Agency (AFD). This initiative aims to strengthen regional integration by facilitating economic exchanges and securing investments through tailored legal instruments, particularly in the field of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). The CARO Centre thus contributes to the development of a more secure economic environment and supports Caribbean stakeholders in their growth and development.

Two key milestones marked the beginning of this month: an economic mission to Saint Lucia organized alongside companies supported by the CARO Centre, and a series of meetings with regional institutional partners as part of the development and structuring of its network of stakeholders.

These initiatives reflect the CARO Centre's commitment to facilitating businesses' access to high-quality legal and strategic information, while promoting mediation and arbitration as effective tools for securing commercial relationships and fostering smoother trade within the Caribbean region.

1. Economic Mission to Saint Lucia 4-5 March 2026

As part of a mission organized jointly with the Martinique Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI Martinique), the CARO Centre joined a business delegation to Saint Lucia on 4 and 5 March 2026 to support the participating companies. The mission provided an opportunity to establish contacts with local stakeholders and gain valuable insight into the legal and economic environment of the territory.

On this occasion, participating companies benefited from the expertise of Mr Leevie Herelle, Attorney-at-Law and member of the CARO Centre's network of experts in Saint Lucia. His intervention addressed key issues relating to international business development, including points of attention concerning international contracts, the legal safeguards required for investments, and best practices for preventing risks in a cross-border context.

Discussions also covered aspects of local law, including company formation procedures, customs regulations, and certain provisions of Saint Lucian labor law.

The delegation was also honored to be received at the Residence of France by H.E. Marie-Noëlle Duris, Ambassador of France to the Eastern Caribbean States, Barbados and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

The mission also provided an opportunity to meet several local stakeholders and gain a deeper understanding of the territory's economic dynamics. Participating companies were able to engage with various local projects and initiatives while presenting their own development prospects on the island.

The CARO Centre would like to express its sincere gratitude to the Martinique Chamber of Commerce and Industry for its partnership on this mission, as well as to Mr Leevie Herelle, Esquire, for the quality of his support and contributions.

Our thanks also go to the local stakeholders AILA Resorts Villas Residences, BayWalk Shopping Mall and Rodney Bay City for their warm welcome and their interest in the CARO Centre's initiatives in support of regional economic cooperation.

Finally, the CARO Centre congratulates the participating companies on the quality of their projects and their commitment to exploring opportunities within Caribbean markets.

2. Strengthening Institutional Partnerships and Promoting Alternative Dispute Resolution

Alongside the economic meetings organized with participating companies, the CARO Centre's mission to Saint Lucia also provided an opportunity to continue discussions with institutional partners and local stakeholders involved in the development of the project.

These meetings form part of the ongoing effort to strengthen the CARO Centre's regional network and support the establishment of a future branch office in Saint Lucia.

In this context, Anaïs Leray, the CARO Centre's OECS Collaborator, had the opportunity to consolidate existing relationships with partners already engaged in the Centre's activities, while identifying new stakeholders who could contribute to the implementation of its initiatives across the region.

Discussions focused in particular on opportunities for cooperation to support businesses and promote the use of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms, particularly mediation and arbitration, as essential tools for securing commercial relationships in an international environment.

These meetings also provided an opportunity to promote greater familiarity with the CARO Centre's objectives and the activities carried out under the project throughout the Caribbean among institutional partners and local stakeholders.

The CARO Centre therefore extends its sincere thanks to Mendy Kilo, representative of the OECS and a key partner of the Centre, for the quality of the discussions and for his commitment to supporting the development of regional cooperation.

Our thanks also go to the Alliance Française of Saint Lucia for its warm welcome and the time dedicated to discussions on the objectives and future prospects of the project.

These meetings represent an important step towards the establishment of the future CARO Centre's branch in Saint Lucia, which aims to strengthen legal support for businesses, promote ADR mechanisms across the region, and foster economic and institutional cooperation throughout the Caribbean.