Audio commentary in English

CHALVET: THE TRAGEDY OF FEBRUARY 14

At the heart of the February 1974 mobilization, a tragic event marked the history of Martinique: the Chalvet tragedy, illustrating the harsh repression of social unrest on the island.

The conflict reached its peak on February 14 when law enforcement set up an ambush at Chalvet, an agricultural area surrounded by pineapple fields. Armed and supported by a helicopter, the gendarmes opened fire without warning, injuring several protesters and killing Rénor Ilmany, a 55-year-old father. Later, the body of Georges Marie-Louise, a young mason, was found under circumstances that raised more questions than answers, with no thorough judicial inquiry to clarify his death.

The first clash with the gendarmes occurred on the bridge over the Lorrain River, where scuffles broke out. The gendarmes tried to block the protesters, but they managed to bypass the authorities by cutting through fields inaccessible to trucks, demonstrating their determination to defend their rights despite the repression.

However, it was at Chalvet where the real ambush occurred, in the vast pineapple fields. The gendarmes, equipped with 14 trucks, surrounded the workers, supported by a helicopter and armed with rifles. Without warning, they opened fire, resulting in the first fatality.

The impact of the Chalvet shooting went beyond the immediate tragedy, sending shockwaves across the entire island. This dark moment serves as a stark reminder of the price paid for social justice and the sacrifices made in the struggle for dignity for Martinique’s workers.

CHALVET: THE TRAGEDY OF FEBRUARY 14 (Continued)

Audio commentary in English

CHALVET: THE TRAGEDY OF FEBRUARY 14 (Continued)

The funerals of the victims, Rénor Ilmany and Georges Marie-Louise, were surrounded by mystery and controversy. The disappearance of Ilmany’s coffin and, later, the discovery of Marie-Louise’s body under troubling circumstances, intensified the pain and indignation, turning the funerals into moments of deep political and social tension.

MYSTERY AROUND ILMANY'S BURIAL AND THE DISAPPEARANCE OF HIS BODY
On the day of Ilmany’s burial, confusion reigned. The unexplained disappearance of his coffin for several hours fueled questions about the manipulation of events for political and union purposes between the CGTM and the UGTM. A protest broke out as doubts were raised over whether it was truly Ilmany in the coffin at the entrance of the church in Lorrain. Some even attempted to open the coffin to verify the identity of the deceased.
Martiniquans gathered in the commune as rumors spread that the mayor of Macouba, Ilmany’s hometown, had orchestrated a plot to cast doubt on the identity of the deceased in an attempt to hand over the organization of the funeral to the CGTM.
Speculations, rumors, and mysteries heightened the already palpable social tension. The burial, initially scheduled for that day, was postponed to the next at the mayor’s request. The vigil, held at his house, was disrupted by agitation.
On February 16, two hours before Ilmany’s burial, the body of a 19-year-old young man, Georges Marie-Louise, was discovered in Basse-Pointe.

THE DEATH OF GEORGES MARIE-LOUISE, AN UNSOLVED MYSTERY
The death of Georges Marie-Louise remains one of the darkest episodes of this period. Found lifeless on a pebble beach at the mouth of the Capot River, the circumstances of his death remain unclear, with authorities offering no convincing explanation.
Almost immediately, the prosecutor's office released a statement denying rumors that Marie-Louise had been tortured by the gendarmes before being thrown, dead or dying, onto the beach where his body was found.
Eyewitnesses who saw the young man’s body described his face as disfigured by blows, with cigarette burns, injuries, and signs of torture. Additionally, the young man’s pants were left pulled down to his legs, exposing his body in a degrading manner. Yet the only official response was: “The sea washed the boy’s body ashore in that state.” This explanation, seen as highly implausible and grossly unjust, was rejected by the population.
This silence only fueled the community’s sense of injustice. The authorities' handling of this case, as well as the judicial treatment of the militants and participants in the strike, contrasted with the apparent impunity of the law enforcement involved, deepening the rift between citizens and the island’s institutions.
The cries of the crowd expressed both pain and anger, and union slogans were replaced with vows of vengeance:
“DOWN WITH COLONIALISM,”
“MARTINIQUE RISE UP.”

THE RESOLUTION PROTOCOL

Audio commentary in English

THE END OF THE CONFLICT AND THE RESOLUTION PROTOCOL

February 19 marked a turning point in the strike with the signing of an agreement between the employers and the CGTM. This protocol included the following provisions:

• A wage of 35.50 francs for 8 hours of work.

• Overtime pay.

• A guarantee against layoffs due to strike participation.

• A prohibition on increasing existing workloads.

Although this agreement was presented as a victory, it failed to address the 11 demands of the agricultural workers and was viewed by many as a betrayal. While the agreed wage was slightly higher than the 35.46 francs demanded by the workers, it remained a conventional agricultural wage, barely covering the price increases that had occurred in Martinique since January 1973.

The agreement was seen as a maneuver that did not impose on plantation owners the obligation to automatically align wages with each increase of the SMIG (minimum wage) in industry and commerce. Additionally, it ignored the demand to stop using toxic substances like curlone (a chlordécone compound).

POST-STRIKE CONSEQUENCES AND REFLECTIONS

The 1974 strike left behind a deeply transformed social and union landscape. The creation of UTAM (Union of Agricultural Workers of Martinique) exemplified a push for more combative unionism. The transformation of the CFDT into the CDMT (Confédération Démocratique Martiniquaise du Travail) also reflected the evolving union scene, influenced by the events of February 1974.

However, repression did not end with the strike. Many workers were fired, placed in custody, or prosecuted, highlighting the persistent tension between workers and authorities. This atmosphere of repression underscored the ongoing challenges workers faced in their struggle for decent working and living conditions.

While the wage increases of 20 or 24% during January’s crisis seemed insignificant compared to the sacrifices made by the workers, they were still better than nothing.

The 1974 strike remains a key moment in the history of the labor movement in Martinique, revealing both the strength of workers' solidarity and the limitations of the agreements reached in the face of workers' expectations. It raises fundamental questions about the relationship between unions, political parties, and workers, as well as the nature of demands in a post-colonial society.