he French colonial presence in the Caribbean resulted in the emergence of a number of related but distinct French-based creoles (or patois). Haitian Creole has by far the largest number of speakers in New York, followed by St. Lucian Creole, but a number of New Yorkers (mostly living in Brooklyn or Harlem) are also Creole speakers from Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French Guiana (all today still overseas departments of France). Today the local creoles are increasingly valued and studied, but metropolitan French nonetheless remains dominant. On nearby islands which were formerly under French rule (Trinidad and Tobago, Dominica, and Grenada) there are also small communities who have continued using French-based creoles, and it's possible that some individuals may be found in New York.