Probe into French Antilles pesticide cancer scandal dropped

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
6 Jan 19:53

The pesticide, which was used to protect crops against weevils, was outlawed in the rest of France in 1990 but was permitted on the islands' banana fields until 1993.

People demonstrate in Martinique in 2021 against the threat of prescription in the judiciary file of the chlordecone. (AFP)

A criminal inquiry into the usage of a pesticide that caused cancer rates to skyrocket in the French Antilles has been dropped by judges in Paris, claiming “too much time had passed to secure convictions.”

The investigators confirmed in a rare five-page explanation of their verdict that the chlordecone pesticide caused a "health scandal" and long-term harm to the islands and their population, AFP reported.

However, after 30 years, they claimed that gathering evidence to charge anyone involved was difficult.

According to a December assessment by France's ANSES health agency, nearly 90% of residents in Martinique and Guadeloupe, two French Caribbean territories, have been infected with chlordecone.

The pesticide, which was used to protect crops against weevils, was outlawed in the rest of France in 1990 but was permitted on the islands' banana fields until 1993.

The chemical has been linked to prostate cancer, which is on the rise in Martinique and Guadeloupe, as well as stomach and pancreatic cancer.

Residents and elected officials have been concerned that statutes of limitations or other legal restraints may prohibit anyone from being held accountable since the first criminal accusations about chlordecone in 2006.

Harry Durimel, mayor of Pointe-a-Pitre in Guadeloupe and a lawyer representing chlordecone victims, said on Friday as quoted by AFP that he would appeal the decision, taking it to European courts if needed.

"A state with the rule of law cannot say there are no grounds for prosecution faced with such a grave injustice," he added.

The president of Martinique's governing body, Serge Letchimy, has also stated that he would organize a meeting of elected officials on Friday.

The judges said their investigation had established "antisocial behavior by some economic actors" in addition to "imprudence, negligence, and ignorance" by authorities.

Before 1993, "economic productivity took precedence over health and environmental concerns," they added.

However, based on scientific evidence available at the time, they were unable to prove that individuals engaged were fully aware of the risks.

Nonetheless, they encouraged plaintiffs to seek restitution from "other authorities" based on the links demonstrated between the chemical and its damages in their judgment.

Since December 2021, prostatic cancer induced by chlordecone has been recognized as a work-related ailment in the Antilles, opening the door to compensation for agricultural laborers.

Protests in Martinique have resurfaced in response to prosecutors' November recommendation to drop the criminal prosecution.

Thousands of people marched through the island's capital Fort-de-France in February 2021 to protest against the case running into the statute of limitations.