The chlordecone IV plan, intended to clean up the islands ravaged by the massive use of the insecticide, promises to be larger than the previous ones. 92 million euros are committed, spread over the two departments, against 30 million previously. Thanks to an effort of co-construction with associations, new sections of society are integrated: education, food, health at work, the economy. Fishermen for example, deprived of vast fishing grounds, in the south of Basse-Terre in particular, or farmers, sometimes confined to contaminated soil, remain very affected.
Launch of the Chlordecone 4 Plan!
Take part now in the major public consultation on: https://t.co/wo2YK1d37u
? End of consultation: December 18, 2020
@Prefet971 @lesoutremer @MinSoliSante @Agri_Gouv @Ecologie_Gouv pic.twitter.com/7rMrIFwKix– Prefect of Martinique (@ Prefet972) November 19, 2020
If there is ” progress “ in budget and support “Global” of the problem, the measures of the plan remain insufficient with regard to the consequences engendered, according to the associations. “The West Indies hold the world record for the number of prostate cancer per capita, recalls the Guadeloupean association Vivre. The physical and moral damages go well beyond these 92 million. “
“Too little investment”
“Above all, we are lagging behind when it comes to decontamination techniques, there are too few investments, and this is the only way out”, wants to believe Laure Tarer, activist. In fact, since the insecticide is still present in 25 to 30% of soils, the West Indians continue to consume it in spite of themselves. Public Health France estimated that 95% of Guadeloupeans and 92% of Martinicans were still infected in 2013. “I am not going to leave Guadeloupe: will my health continue to be in danger depending on the water I drink and the fish I eat? If we don’t attack the root, we will remain in this state for hundreds of years to come ”, Laure Tarer worries. Natural and complete soil remediation could take up to 600 years, scientists say.
Responsibilities
Above all, the question of responsibilities is still not resolved. If Emmanuel Macron, in 2018, recognized the fault of the State in this “Environmental scandal”, the lawsuit initiated after the complaints of associations in 2006, risks the dismissal. The facts, too old, would be prescribed. Thus, on Saturday February 27, tens of thousands of Martinicans mobilized “Against impunity” and are already planning to do it again at the end of March.
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