The dependencies of Guadeloupe are three islands or island groups in the Leeward Islands chain which are administratively part of the neighboring French overseas department of Guadeloupe in the French Lesser Antilles. They are nearby island entities to the south and east of Guadeloupe island. Saint-Barthélemy and the French side of Saint-Martin were dependencies of Guadeloupe before they became autonomous. There are now three dependencies: Îles des Saintes Marie-Galante La Désirade In order to distinguish them from the former dependencies to the north (Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Martin), they are known as the southern islands of Guadeloupe. The unofficial expressions Archipelago of Guadeloupe and Islands of Guadeloupe, which remain only an administrative reality, serve to differentiate the department of Guadeloupe (the French institutional entity including Guadeloupe island and its dependencies) and the two islands of Guadeloupe itself. Status and Administration From their incorporation into Guadeloupe, the dependencies benefit from their departmental status and are integrated under the terms of the French policy of assimilation into the French territory according to the 73rd article of the French Constitution. They are also integrated as ultra peripherals regions of the European Union. According to the Constitution of the French Fifth Republic and the guidance law for overseas or Paul's Law (March 18, 2000) established by Congress, every dependency has the choice of upgrading to an overseas collectivity in the 74th article of the French Constitution and to free itself from the Guadeloupean administration if their elected representatives should make the request. These islands are first divided into cantons, then subdivided into communes, including the two arrondissements and three of the four constituencies (circonscriptions in French) of the French overseas department of Guadeloupe. As Guadeloupe is an integral part of France, the inhabitants of the islands enjoy full French citizenship. Economic situation analysis In spite of an enormous tourist potential, the economies of the dependencies are not strong. The majority of tourists to Guadeloupe favor a one-day hike visit to the islands instead of a full stay. Only les Saintes, which welcomes cruise and yacht tourism, has independent tourism. The economies of the islands are mainly based on fishing, craft and tourism, each to different degrees on each dependency. Only Marie-Galante possesses an agricultural economy, by cultivating sugar cane and producing rum. This sector is particularly in crisis. The departmental system freezes and causes the economic dynamism of the dependencies to run out of steam. The