The issue of water in Martinique is no longer a demagogic debate in which certain rigid conservatives take pleasure. It has become a major political test: that of our collective ability to guarantee a fundamental right to every woman and man in Martinique.
For years, our country has been living with water outages, restrictions, and unequal access. Every Lent serves as a reminder—with an indecent harshness that has become almost commonplace for some—that depending on whether one lives in the north, the center, or the south, water is not supplied with the same regularity, at the same cost, or under the same conditions.
The creation of a single authority in Martinique has already been approved by the people of Martinique through their elected representatives. It is no longer a possibility. It is no longer an option. Once the National Assembly votes on this matter, the next step will be to implement and enact legislation in our country, Martinique, on an issue as essential as water. It is a democratic, clear, legitimate, and now irreversible decision.
The situation we are facing is not an inevitable consequence of climate change. It is the result of a fragmented, outdated system that has been perpetuated for too long and is now revealing its limitations in the face of a lack of courage and determination.
That is why, on January 5, 2026, the Assembly of Martinique made a historic decision. Unanimously, it chose to create a single water and wastewater authority by delegation. This unanimity is no small matter. It sends a strong message: when the public interest is clearly defined, Martinique knows how to come together to move forward.
This choice is not ideological, but a democratic act—a vote—and it was never made behind the backs of the people of Martinique. To say otherwise is an insult to democracy and to elected officials.
Today, up to 40 % of the water produced is lost in aging distribution networks. Investments are still too often scattered. Responsibilities are spread across several organizations. And this is despite the efforts made in recent years, particularly by the Territorial Collectivity of Martinique and the EPCIs, which have helped reduce water outages—a fact that no one disputes, especially following the projects in Seguineau as well as in the north and south.
In light of this, we have decided to no longer just managing the consequences, but addressing the causes.
Creating a single authority means accepting a simple fact: we need clear, well-defined, accountable governance that is capable of steering the process a coherent national water policy.
It also means choosing regional solidarity. Because water can no longer be a matter of administrative boundaries or local self-interest. It must become a common good managed in a spirit of equity.
The expected benefits are well-known and concrete:
- a single, harmonized, and fairer water production price,
- a single retail price for water throughout the country,
- a socially affordable water rate advocated by many residents of Martinique,
- enhanced service continuity,
- greater and better-coordinated investment capacity,
- interconnecting networks to better cope with periods of drought.
But beyond these goals lies a greater ambition: to build a Martinique that is more just, more resilient, and more sovereign in the management of its essential resources.
In this context, I have taken note of the views recently expressed by Yan Monplaisir, who advocates for a different approach: one based on coordination among intermunicipal associations.
I want to respond to him respectfully, but clearly.
We are familiar with this approach. We have tried it. For years, coordination was presented as a solution. In reality, it has failed to prevent the crises we continue to face today.
Why? Because governance based on voluntary participation—on fragile balances among multiple stakeholders—cannot withstand periods of tension. It does not allow for quick decision-making. It does not guarantee the effectiveness of investments. It does not create the conditions for genuine solidarity.
The point here is not to pit the various stakeholders against one another, nor to deny the efforts made by intermunicipal organizations. The point is to acknowledge a reality: The current model has reached its limits.
What we are proposing with the single authority is not a challenge to local governments or community-based services. It is a more transparent, more efficient, and more accountable system.
This is not a technocratic recentralization. It is a gradual integration of the skills, expertise, and the men and women who keep the water service running today.
And I want to be very clear: there will be no brutality, no haste. There will be dialogue, consultation, and respect. But there will also be determination.
Because the real issue goes beyond institutional debates.
It is due to climate change, which is reducing water resources and exacerbating periods of drought.
It is the state of our infrastructure, which requires massive and rapid investment.
It is a matter of dignity for the people of Martinique, who should no longer have to endure repeated water outages in their daily lives.
Every year without reform is a year wasted. We can no longer afford that luxury.
The decision was made democratically and transparently through a clear vote that cannot be unilaterally challenged to fuel political controversies.
The EPCIs have always been involved in the discussion. They have been consulted on several occasions, notably during a meeting attended by Bruno Nestor Azérot, CAP NORD, Luc Clémenté of CACEM, and André Lesueur of ESPACE SUD, on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, at the headquarters of the Territorial Collectivity of Martinique, where the very principle of a single authority was formally adopted.
As soon as the National Assembly votes on the bill, the Territorial Collectivity of Martinique will immediately begin drafting the Martinique law that will enable the implementation of the single water authority. This process will take time—two to three years—to ensure an in-depth, open, and respectful dialogue and to explore the most relevant scenarios before the Martinique Assembly makes its final decision.
This decision, adopted unanimously by the Martinique Assembly, is binding on us all. It marks the end of the era of hesitation and half-measures.
The course has now been set, and we will stay the course with determination, steering clear of any demagogic shortcuts.
Ensuring access to water—everywhere and for everyone in Martinique—is a fundamental necessity. This is the cause we are fully committed to.
Serge LETCHIMY
Chairman of the Executive Council of Martinique
