Accompanied by the mayor of the town of Robert (east of Martinique), Alfred Monthieux, the socialist candidate boarded a small boat to see in the bay the extent of the phenomenon and the work of the "sargator", a barge bought by the municipality for the collection of these algae.
Sargassum, which has been proliferating in the Caribbean region since 2011, when it rots on the shore gives off nauseous and toxic fumes that can endanger the health of local residents and discourage tourists.
"France must take up this problem and stop treating it with contempt and ignorance," she said, denouncing "the inaction of the Head of State, who no longer drives anything in ecological matters".
Socialist presidential candidate Anne Hidalgo during a trip to the town of Robert (eastern Martinique), February 13, 2022 Thomas COEX AFP
“I think that we will be able to coordinate with the communities of Martinique and Guadeloupe, to go, as we are working on it in Paris with other municipalities, to demand reparation from the State for its climate inaction. “, she affirmed.
The sargassum season is just beginning and "for the moment, they are not too present", but "in three weeks we will be right in it", explained Bruno Leconte, sargassum referent of the municipality.
"A boat like that costs 200,000 euros, he explains. "Part of it is paid for by the state, but the state does not pay right away," adds Mayor Alfred Monthieux.
"We know the polluters", affirmed Anne Hidalgo: "it is the State of Brazil, with (Jair) Bolsonaro, since all that comes from the deforestation of Brazil, which it authorizes in high doses, and also from large industrial groups that participate in this deforestation".
The candidate pleaded for France to take "international leadership on the issue of climate justice", and defended "the creation of an international criminal court and the crime of ecocide" to "punish polluters".
"We find ourselves here, thousands of kilometers away, having to manage in an artisanal way" with "extremely weak state aid", she denounced.
The socialist candidate wants to "give local authorities the skills, powers and financial means to act".
© 2022 AFP