A visit to a landfill site, a fishing port, a “cultural innovation site”, but also meetings with business leaders, or even a discussion on the power of shopping in a supermarket… Jean-François Carenco’s program was full, during the three-day trip to Martinique by the Minister Delegate for Overseas Territories. However, a completely different theme emerged during this ministerial visit, which ended on Saturday 14 January: chlordecone, this pesticide is toxic to humans and the environment used in banana plantations and banned in 1993. After the announcement of the dismissal decision rendered on January 2 by two investigating judges from the public health department of the Paris court in this criminal case, after seventeen years of proceedings, the subject is still on everyone’s mind in the West Indies.
The Minister was able to see this as soon as he arrived in the department, where he was going for the third time since taking office, in July 2022. During a press conference organized after his meeting, Thursday January 12 in the evening, with, among others, the president of the executive council of the Territorial Collectivity of Martinique (CTM), Serge Letchimy (Progressive Martinican Party), Jean-François Carenco claimed to have discussed “twelve to fifteen subjects” with elected officials, but it was on chlordecone that he was immediately pressed to speak.
“We talked about it extensively with Serge Letchimy”said the minister. “I recognize the humiliation that people have been subjected to by dragging out this case for thirty or forty years”, he added. Refusing, by republican tradition, to comment on the judges’ decision, Mr. Carenco nevertheless said ” hit “ through this discussion with the elected officials of the community and indicated that he wanted to take the time to “reflect on conclusions” of this exchange. The government must “say the real things” and make promises “that[il] is able to holdinsisted the minister.
“Joint Action”
Serge Letchimy was satisfied with these conciliatory remarks. “Behind this humiliation there is a terrible suffering that continues: twenty-two years of pollution and nearly forty years of procrastination to find solutions”, recalled this former deputy, who had chaired the parliamentary commission of inquiry set up in 2019 to shed light on this scandal. The CTM, which became a civil party in October 2021 in this criminal case opened in February 2006, after the filing of a complaint for poisoning, will “use all avenues of appeal”, assured Mr. Letchimy. Calling for the respect by the State of “the dignity of peoples” West Indians and entry into “the era of repair”the Martinican elected official also mentioned the constitution of a “political front” with Guadeloupe’s elected officials.
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