Bridgetown, Barbados, 7 May 2025 (PAHO) – University students from Martinique visited Barbados on a study trip and were hosted at the PAHO/WHO Barbados Office.
Accompanied by their tutors - Yann Bérard, Associate Professor of Political Science, head of the Public Action Overseas programme and coordinator of the overseas trip; and Sylvie Régina, English language teacher, fifteen students from the Faculty of Law and Economics of the Université des Antilles were welcomed by the PAHO/WHO Office for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Countries (ECC). The trip was prepared in close collaboration with the Directorate of Territorial Diplomacy of the Martinique Territorial Collectivity, mainly through Mr. Jean-Yves Lacascade, Advisor for External Action and Territorial Diplomacy, who facilitated the contact with PAHO and other Barbados-based entities visited by the visiting group.
This visit is in line with the courtesy visit of the President of the Executive Council of Martinique Mr. Serge Letchimy, on February 19th this year, to the PAHO ECC Office to discuss collaboration between Martinique and PAHO, following the new membership of Martinique as an associate member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) from September 2024.
PAHO/WHO Representative for Barbados and the ECC, Dr. Amalia Del Riego, was delighted to host the students. Dr. Del Riego explained to the group the relationship between PAHO and the French Departments, mainly Martinique, Guadeloupe and French Guyana.
Dr. Solange Kobi Jackson, Advisor Community Health and Life Course for Primary Health Care, and Dr. Vishwanath Partapsingh, Advisor Health Services and Systems, engaged the group in a discussion about PAHO’s history, organizational structure, and its role providing technical support to member countries. While student Eva Lafrie presented on behalf of the students and tutors, expressing their pleasure for the opportunity.
Following the discussions, the group was guided on a tour of the newly inaugurated Carissa F. Etienne Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), conducted by Advisor Public Health Emergencies, Joanne Persaud, before touring the rest of the Barbados Office.
