ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) – The Organization of American States (OAS) says Secretary General Albert Ramdin and the Ambassador of France to the Eastern Caribbean States, Barbados and OECS, Francis Etienne, on Wednesday signed an agreement to strengthen and promote French language education in the Eastern Caribbean.

The OAS said the agreement was signed during a ceremony held on the margins of the OAS General Assembly in Antigua and Barbuda.

According to the agreement, the organisations will collaborate to “better integrate the use of French into public education policies” in St Lucia, Dominica, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, and St Kitts and Nevis.

The OAS said the initiative also includes training French language teachers in pedagogy, didactics and linguistics.

Additionally, the OAS said the project aims to “spark student interest at the primary and secondary levels and increase the number of young people capable of studying and working in French.”

During the signing ceremony at the headquarters of the OAS General Assembly in St John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, Ramdin highlighted the importance of the project as a “pivotal agreement that underscores our collective commitment to progress, integration, and mutual understanding across the Americas.”

Ramdin also thanked France for their “unwavering support, generosity and commitment to multilateralism and cultural exchange.”

The OAS said Etienne “celebrated the initiative and reiterated France’s commitment to amplify cooperation with the Organisation.”

He said the initiative is “the beginning, a small step for us today, but a big step for cooperation between France and the OAS.

“We hope there will be other opportunities, not only in promoting languages, but in terms of security, health, and other fields,” he said, adding: “This includes our focus on Caribbean culture, Caribbean politics, and Caribbean development.”

The OAS said France has been a permanent observer of the hemispheric body since 1972.