Guadeloupe fishermen have obtained a freeze on the price of tax-free fuel for four months after blocking the Pointe-à-Pitre channel on Friday June 3 to protest against rising fuel prices, Agence France Presse (AFP) learned from state services.
Tax-free fuel will cost “0.73 euro for 4 months”, or 20 cents less than today, it was specified. This freeze is due to come into effect in mid-June and be in effect until September. A monthly meeting has also been decided. The fishermen had taken their boats out early Friday morning, tying them together to prevent other vessels from entering and leaving the Pointe-à-Pitre channel.
The significant rise in fuel prices in recent months has raised the premium for these professionals to 93 cents per litre, which is ” unsustainable “declared Charly Vincent, chairman of the Fisheries Committee, at the microphone of Guadeloupe the 1time.
Secretary of State in campaign
Campaigning on the island for the legislative elections of June 12 and 19, the Secretary of State for the Sea Justine Benin – candidate in the second constituency – went to meet the protesters. She discussed “the concerns of fishermen, whether it is the increase in fuel prices, fishing quotas, the sharing of fishing areas or the overall attractiveness of the sector in Guadeloupe”she said on her Facebook account.
Blocking the channel to all traffic, including ferries linking Guadeloupe to Marie-Galante, has resulted in cuts to crossings for many passengers. Elected officials from the Grande Galette, which hosts a music festival this Pentecost weekend attracting many visitors, have denounced this situation.
Those of Marie-Galante rejoiced in a press release at the end of the day of the unblocking of the channel by the fishermen, deploring “the difficult situation that their blockade created” for the economy of Guadeloupe, indicated Maryse Etzol, president of the Community of communes of the island, quoted in this press release. At the same time in 2021, the fishermen had blocked the channel for several days and obtained a price reduction of 40 cents.