Communes represent the second and final administrative level in Guadeloupe, an overseas region of France in the Caribbean. The territory is divided into 32 communes, which function as the primary unit of local government. These municipalities handle essential public services including urban planning, waste management, local policing, primary education facilities, and civil registries. Each commune is governed by a municipal council and mayor, elected by local residents. As in metropolitan France, communes manage local infrastructure, maintain public spaces, issue building permits, and implement social welfare programs. They also collect local taxes and manage municipal budgets. The communes vary considerably in size and population, ranging from small rural settlements to larger urban centers like Pointe-à-Pitre and Les Abymes, which serve as major economic and administrative hubs for the archipelago.