Global Voices Online » St. Barthélémy

Dominica: Dengue Fever

Janine Mendes-Franco — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 23:18:53 +0000

Living Dominica reports that the incidence of Dengue Fever is still high in certain Caribbean islands.

Guadeloupe: Let's Vote

Alice Backer — Tue, 01 May 2007 04:30:17 +0000

About the upcoming French presidential second round elections, Guadeloupe Attitude writes [Fr]: “Vote Saturday! Vote well! And let's roll up our sleeves Monday for the challenges that await us!”

The French Presidential Election: A View From Outside the Metropole

Jennifer Brea — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 12:38:08 +0000

This weekend, more than 60 million French cast their ballots in the first round of the French presidential election, narrowing the list of candidates to two: conservative UMP candidate Nicolas Sarkozy and Socialist Party candidate Segolene Royal. Both face a run-off vote on May 6th.

In the five years since the last presidential election, and in particular after the 2005 riots and the headscarf controversy, immigration and race have moved to the center of the political debate.

This, combined with the fact that the election marks the first time in France's history a woman has come this close to the presidency, might account for Sunday's unprecedented voter turnout, the highest since 1965.

Here's a view of the election from outside the metropole–voters in overseas French departments, interested bloggers in former French colonies, and the growing ranks of hyphenated French.

Around Francophonia

Few Warm Feelings for Sarkozy

Like many francophones, Vive la Francophonie is

Listening to Sarkozy at 20:30, I had tears in my eyes. He wanted to protect me, wanted brotherhood for the big French family, he was against “golden parachutes.” For a moment it seemed he could have become a social democrat with the blink of an eye! Sarkozy finished by condemning everyone to prison for a life sentence, proposing retirement between age 65 and 70. Last about face: on “RCJ” Coassgen announced a referendum on Europe…

…there are other arguments in Royal's favor: popular jury, proportional representation in the National Assembly, the right of petition, the placement of juvenile delinquents in military academies, local boarding schools, flexisecurity, and possibly a greater attention to francophones because she was born in Senegal.

Congo-Brazzaville

At Demain Le Congo Brazzaville, Mouvimat, who clearly has no love for Sarkozy, maintains that nothing is certain; but as if anticipating a Sarkozy win, wonders what France will be like under Sarkozy.

Si la raison l'a emporté au premier tour, rien n'est moins sûr, même si l'on se rend compte que pour une fois, les élections sont conformes aux prédictions des sondages. Les sondages sont-ils devenus une science exacte ? Certainement pas ! Mais nous savons qu'ils influencent les petits esprits et les petites opinions qui se disent :”la majorité a raison donc je vote comme la majorité !”

If reason carried us through the first round, nothing is certain anymore, even if we admit that the polls did predict the outcome. Has polling become an exact science? Of course not! But we know that it influences the weak-minded and those without opinions who say: “the majority is right, so I will vote like the majority!:

Si Sarkozy passe, il se pourrait que les Français le regrette mais ce peuple est pétri de contradictions et c'est ainsi qu'il aime à avancer en se vautrant dans sa propre contradiction…s'il gagne dans quinze jours aura tous les pouvoirs…

If Sarkozy wins, he will make the French regret it. But these are a people riddled with contradictions and this is why they prefer to soldier on, wallowing in their own contradiction…if he wins, in fifteen days he will have all the power…

Mouvimat goes onto call Sarkozy the “standard bearer” (Fr) of the monied classes, one step away from supreme power, and says that Jews are the “masters of global finance.”

Morocco: Overwhelming Support for Royal

Community web portal Yabiladi.com posts an online poll which suggests that like other minorities, French Moroccans remain suspicious of Nicolas Sarkozy, who received only 7% of 1057 votes. Centrist candidate Francois Bayrou received 25% and Segolene Royal was most popular, with 48%. Royal and Bayrou have benefited, Yabiladi explains, from the French Moroccan community's position of “Anything but Sarko” (Fr) .

Lebanon: A Center-Right Blogger Laments Both Royal and Sarkozy

Of the election results, French-Lebanese blogger Frencheagle –a rightest in favor of Bayrou, not Sarkozy–writes of that France has chosen “mediocrity and arrogance” (Fr). Segolene Royal is the mediocre candidate making promises she cannot possibly keep, and Sarkozy the arrogant one, notably for his handling of the 2005 riots.

Frencheagle, who seems to have preferred Bayrou, writes that the results show France has significantly shifted to the right. A rightist himself, Frencheagle thinks this is generally a good sign, but he's not keen on seeing Sarko in the presidency.

la France n'a jamais été autant droite qu'aujourd'hui, si on accumule les votes de François Bayrou, Nicolas Sarkozy, et Jean-Marie Le Pen. Plus de 60 % de la population française estiment en effet que désormais seule une politique de droite pourraient venir à bout des problèmes auxquels fait face leur pays. Je ne peux qu'être bien sûr que content de cela, étant et me considérant de droit. Je déplore cependant en soit arrivé à avoir un Sarkozy deuxième tour, ne fait plutôt penser à un roquet plein président de la république, il a l'art de polémiquer, de provoquer, mais sûrement pas de se poser comme arbitre entre Français qui agissent dans l'intérêt de tous.

If you tally the votes of Francois Bayrou, Nicolas Sarkozy, and Jean-Marie Le Pen, France has never been as conservative as it is today. More than 60% of the French population has in effect judged that only the Right can bring an end to the problems that the country faces. That can only make me happy as I consider myself a rightist. Nevertheless, I regret that Sakozy made it to the second round. It does make me think of what will happen when such an ill-tempered man becomes president of the Republic. He knows how to stoke debate, how to provke, but he definitely does not know how to be a mediator for alll French people, to act in the interests of all.

Tunisia

Global Voices author Samsoum has an in-depth roundup of the Tunisian blogosphere's coverage of the French presidential election. Girl from Mars wonders why Tunisians seem to be more interested and knowledgeable about French politics than their own.

Overseas Departments Vote

Guadeloupe and Martinique

Guadeloupe and Martinique both saw record turnouts, with the majority of voters in Guadeloupe voting for Sarkozy (42.6%) and in Martinique, for Royal (48.4%).

Overseas departments voted on April 21st, one day ahead of France, so as to “avoid the impression their vote was useless” (Fr), explains Greg at Internet Rapide. Because of the early vote and the time difference, broadcasts of television and radio news from France were temporarily suspended in order to comply with the ban on campaigning after the Friday before the poll.

Segolene Royal is “Dangerous for France”

As passionately as Et Si Nous Parlions writes about his loss of faith in Sarkozy and his support for Royal, Trop Nul en Guadeloupe explains why Segolene Royal is “dangerous for France.”

Marie-Ségolène Royal qui s'est présentée comme une mère aux Français, n'est en fait qu'une fourbe dissimulée sous un beau visage, refait lui aussi pour endormir l'électeur. Depuis le début de “SA” campagne, il y a six mois, Marie-Ségolène Royal n'a cessé de suivre l'actualité au plus près pour adapter ses thèses aux souhaits des uns et des autres. Dans ses tentatives de précisions, sont apparues ce que l'on a appelé des bourdes, mais qui n'étaient en fait que le résultat d'un creux sidéral au niveau de ses idées.

Méprisante avec le PS, son parti, puis à nouveau une fidèle partisane, Marie-Ségolène Royal n'est en fait qu'une courtisane se donnant au plus offrant.

Marie-Ségolène Royal, who styles herself a mother of France, is nothing more than a wolf in sheep's clothing, a cheat hiding under a pretty face (that too redone to lull voters). Since the beginning of “her” campaign six months ago, Marie-Ségolène Royal has not stopped following current events to adapt her position to the wishes of someone or another. In her attempts to be specific, she has made many so-called blunders, but these were in fact the result of the hollowness of her ideas.

Once disdainful of the Socialist Party, she has become its newest, devoted member. Marie-Ségolène Royal is nothing more than a courtesan giving herself to the highest bidder.

Trop Nul en Guadeloupe also thinks http://samsontahiti.blogspot.com/2007/04/1er-tour-presidentielles-samedi.html”>writes about the election from Tahiti. As in the French Antilles, French Polynesia votes a day earlier. However in this case if they did not vote a day ahead, with the time difference Tahitians would know the outcome of the election in France before the polls even opened in their country.

Like many before him, Sampson notes the record interest in this presidential election. However, he thinks that attention has become somewhat farcical and does not represent genuine civic engagement.

Maintenant, les candidats, on les découvre autant dans VOICI et GALA que dans LE MONDE ou L'EXPRESS…

On entend que cette campagne a passionné les français. Mon oeil comme dirait Le Pen ! C'est de l'auto persuasion non ? On nous bassine avec des petites phrases…on se demande qui est le personnage en photo dans un cadre derrière Arlette Laguiller (est-ce qu'elle a un “mec” ?), on nous montre des photos de Ségolène en jeans parce qu'elle ne met pas que des robes, etc…

Il y a les attaques verbales plus ou moins frontales, et puis les pervers (enfin surtout un…) qui répond “qu'il ne répond pas”, que les autres se querellent et que lui s'occupe des Français…

Now, you are as likely to find the candidates in VOICI and GALA [i.e., tabloid magazines] as in LE MONDE our L'EXPRESS…

You've heard about how this campaign has enthralled the French. Yeah right! as Le Pen would say. Aren't we just talking ourselves into it? We swim in a sea of meaningless words…we ask ourselves who is this person in the photo behind Arlette Laguiller (did she go get herself a “man?”), we show photographs of Segolene in jeans because she normally only wears dresses, etc…

Samson once went through an “angry adolescent-abstentionist period” (Fr). He is full of doubts. Nevertheless, he writes that it is important to vote and that if people are ever to practice a higher level of politics, civic education is essential. Parents should talking to their children about politics.

An African Living in France Explains His Support for Royal, Disillusionment with Sarkozy

Sarkozy and the 2005 Riots

Et si nous parlions, written by a francophone African, country unknown, explains his reasons for supporting Segolene Royal, even though as recently as one year ago, he was a Sarkozy supporter.

Sarkozy's handling of the 2005 riots have made the author of Et si nous parlions believe that Sarkozy, and the majority of the French, are not really interested in building a multicultural, multiracial France.

Il y'a un an, j'étais prosarkozyste, je suivais avec attention ses idées qui avaient l'air d'apporter du changement dans cette France sclérosée. J'étais pour la discrimination positive parceque j'ai toujours cru que “un tiens vaut mieux que deux tu l'auras”. En effet, au lieu d'attendre, probalement 1000 ans que la France change de mentalité et réintègre sa partie colorée dans son histoire. Je préfère qu'on discrimine positivement en attendant que le monde soit meilleur.

A year ago I was pro-Sarkozy. I attentively followed his ideas, which promised to bring change to this fossil, France. I was for affirmative action because I had always believed that “a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.” In short, instead of waiting, probably 1000 years, for France to change its mentality and integrate the colored part of its history, I prefer to have positive discrimination while we wait for a better world.

Puis un jour, il y'a eu les émeutes des banlieues, j'ai attendu que cet homme politique traite ce problème de manière pragmatique. C'est a dire remettre du calme mais aussi essayer de comprendre, trouver des solutions sociales au problème des exclus de banlieue. J'ai attendu qu'il profite de cette occasion pour relancer l'idée de dsicrimination positive. Avec 40% de chomage dans certains villes, on peut comprendre que l'emploi est la première solution contre l'émeute des banlieues. C'est alors que nous avons tous compris avec stupéfaction que Sieur Nicolas comptait se servir de la peur qu'a naturellement, historiquement, psychologiquement et socialement un blanc de neuilly pour un jeune basané de clichy sous bois en France.

Then one day, there were riots in the suburbs. I waited for [Sarkozy] to treat the problem in a pragmatic manner, to restore calm, but also to try to understand and find social solutions to the problem of the excluded in the suburbs. I waited for him to take advantage of this opportunity to revive affirmative action. With unemployment at 40% in some towns, it's not difficult to see why employment is the first answer to the riots in the suburbs. And so we were completely dumbfounded when Mr. Nicolas decided to count on the fear that in France, naturally, historically, psychologically and socially, a white from Neuilly has for a brown-skinned youth from Clichy-Sous-Bous.

C'est alors que j'ai compris a quelle sauce Sarkozy comptait nous manger. Et c'est alors que j'ai décidé de regarder ailleurs. Si Sarkozy avait été au pouvoir pendant cette dernière decennie, jamais quelqu'un comme moi ne serait arrivé en France. Je ne scierai pas l'arbre sur lequel je suis assis.

And that is how I came to understand what sauce Sarkozy was counting on us to eat. That is how I decided to look elsewhere. If Sarkozy had been in power this last decade, someone like me would never have come to France.

Race & French Politics

Et Si Nous Parlions is deeply skeptical that either the Left or the Right is seriously committed to addressing racism in France, but that the Left represents the lesser of two evils.

C'est vrai qu'il ya presque autant de noirs /arables voire plus à l'UMP qu'au PS. Mais l'UMP de Sarkozy a viré à l'extreme droite. C'est une UMP qui dit aux basanés, nous ferons rien pour que vous reussisiez mais une fois que vous serez riche et populaire, nous oublierons que vous venez d'ailleurs. C'est une UMP qui ne veut garder que les meilleurs, les favorisés ecrasant sur son passage ceux qui souffrent de l'exclusion dans les coins pauvres de France. Je ne pense pas qu'il y ait moins de racistes a gauche mais je pense qu'il ya une difference entre legitimer le racisme et ne pas en parler. La difference est que l'auteur du racisme doute du bien fondé de son acte. Je ne veux pas d'un pays qui croit que c'est normal d'habiter en cité parce qu'on est noir, que seuls les etrangers posent problème, que la polygamie est source des emeutes de banlieues…

It's true that there are almost more blacks in the UMP than in the Socialist Party. But the UMP of Sarkozy has moved toward the far right. It's a UMP that says to people of color, we won't do anything to help you succeed, but once you are rich and famous, we will forget where you came from. It's a UMP that only wants the best, the favored who, on their way to the top, have stepped all over those who suffer from exclusion and poverty. I don't think there are fewer racists on the Left, but I think that there is a difference between legitimizing racism and not speaking of it. The difference is that the author of racism doubts the legitmacy of his act. I want nothing from a country that thinks it's normal to live in poor suburbs because you're black, that only foreigners cause problems, that polygamy is the source of riots…

J'ai tout prévu , Si Sarkozy et Le pen passent au second tour, j'estime que la France l'aura merité. Il n'y aura plus aucune raison pour moi d'etre pacifique, plus aucune de croire en une France qui se veut diverse. Je ne resisterai pas pacifique et je voterai a ce moment la pour le repli communautaire parceque je pense que de toute facon on ne pourra rien faire contre un majorité de gens qui les aurons sciamment choisi. Je créerai donc ma boite de noirs pour des salariés et des clients noirs. J'adhererai à des associations de noirs etc… Vous me direz, tu feras exactement ce qu'ils veulent. C'est exact mais au moins ce sera pour mon propre intéret.

If Sarkozy and Le Pen make it to the second round, France would benefit. I have no more reason to be calm or to believe in a France that wants to be diverse. I will not remain pacifist, I am voting now for communitarian interests because I think that in any case, there is nothing we can do in the face of the majority who will have knowlingy chosen them. So I'll start my own black company for black clients and black workers. I'll join black associations…You'll tell me, I'm doing exactly what they want me to do, and you'll be right, but at least it will be in my own interest.

Cautious Support for Royal

While the blogger is not sure Royal will be better able to represent him than any of the other white candidates, Royal, at least, has more convincingly Intellectuals tell us we should not vote [for Segolene Royal] just because she is a woman. I have a thousand objective reasons that have compelled me to vote for her. The first is that I am African, and she is the only candidate that has said on television, in front of millions of French watching TF1, that France exploited Africa. This does not mean that she will be better than any of the others. And let's be realistic; it's up to us to change our countries of origin. Nevertheless, the fact that she said this is already a good start. She's also the candidate who is proposing “roundtrip” visas allowing Africans to return to their country of origin much more easily, and I think that today for the diaspora that has established itself [in France], that is no small thing.

Woman President As Symbol of Hope and Change

Although the fact that she is a woman is not the primary reason this blogger is voting for Royal, the symbolism of her gender is not lost on him

…pour la premiere fois, une femme risque d'etre presidente en France. Au fond, je ne crois pas qu'elle soit moins au plus competente que les autres. Mais je pense que le symbole qu'elle represente va au dela de la politique. Je m'explique.

Les femmes sont globalement discriminées dans cette société malgré toutes les lois de parité. Un femme a ce niveau de l'état est une amorce naturelle au changement. Nous ne changerons plus nos hommes mais nous changerons nos petits garcons qui sauront q'une femme peut aller la ou un homme peut aller. Qu'est ce que ca change pour la minorité que je suis ? C'est le symbole dans l'esprit des gens. Aux USA, il fallait compter avec Hilary clinton, aujourdhui il faut compter avec Barak Obama. On en est pas la en France mais c'est une amorce.

…for the first time, a woman has a shot at being president of France. Deep down, I don't believe that she will be any more or less competent than the others. But I think that what she sympbolizes goes beyond boplitics. Let me explain.

Women are discriminated against in this society, despite being equal before the law. A woman at this level of power is naturally the beginning of change. We can no longer change our men, but we can change our young boys, let them know that a woman can go wherever a man can. What does that change for the minority I belong to? It's a symbol in people's minds. In the US, you looked to Hillary Clinton, now you look to Barak Obama. We're not there yet in France, but it's a beginning.

Photos: Nicolas Sarkozy and Segolene Royal; Source: Wiki Commons

Puerto Rico: Gli Gli Sails Again

Janine Mendes-Franco — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 11:41:50 +0000

The Voice of the Taino People is excited about The Gli-Gli (or Carib Canoe) sailing expedition in celebration of the 10th anniversary of its first voyage to relink the indigenous Carib communities of the region.

Guadeloupe: Dengue Fever/Chikungunya a Threat

Alice Backer — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 22:38:39 +0000

Guadeloupe Attitude highlights (Fr) the story of Alexandre, a 6-month old Guadeloupean infant who passed away recently from dengue fever (one of two in the last month) and adds: “Authorities fear a resurgence of the dengue virus, chikungunya version. Transmitted by female mosquitoes, it is not mortal in its primary form but in its secondary form provokes grave hemorrages on older people and infants especially … The fight against mosquitoes should become a priority on the island through an outreach campaign.”

French Caribbean DOMs: Welcoming Vaval, King of Carnival

Alice Backer — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 00:00:46 +0000

Mas a kle, a Guadeloupe mas band
Uploaded by Akynou

No sooner were the 2006 holidays over that Martiniquans, Guadeloupeans and Guianese were kicking off the prelude to “Vaval”, their affectionate nickname for carnival which will take place in February, in a three-day celebration peaking on “Mardi Gras”, the “fat tuesday” ending the festival. All through January, bloggers from those overseas departments of France, Departements d'Outre Mer or D.O.M. in French, chronicled the kickoff and one in particular offered invaluable background on the annual event and its religious roots.

Guyane: Reviving Tradition
Despite the long-standing tradition of Carnival in the French Caribbean, in Guyane (a.k.a French Guiana), there seems to be a preoccupation with “reviving” the festival which may have for one reason or another, seen better days. Says Portail de St-Laurent du Maroni:

C'est un carnaval qui s'annonce donc sous de bons augures cette année, porté par la volonté de plusieurs jeunes de la commune désireux de faire revivre à cette tradition guyanaise les beaux jours qu'elle y a naguère connus. Ils comptent donc sur toute la population pour que ces 6 semaines soient un vrai moment de fête partagé et apprécié par tous.

It is a carnival that announces itself well this year, propelled by the will of many young people from the town who want to bring back the better days this Guianese tradition has has. They therefore count on the whole of the population so that those 6 weeks are a real moment of celebration shared and appreciated by all.

From now until carnival, two weekly parties will take place with the group Akwarel performing, announces the portal, one is the “pare-masque” ball on saturday nights in Flore and another on Sunday nights, the traditional “Titane” ball in Lac Bleu.

Guyane's Touloulou Balls: Democratic If Potentially Dangerous Dancing
On Portail de St Laurent de Maroni, the portal of a city which will host many of the festivities this year, many women commented on the aftermath of past pare-masque balls, a Guianese tradition during which women get to be more sexually aggressive than usual. Aline Belfort-Chanol, author of a book on the topic, describes the balls:

« Le bal paré-masqué » a lieu pendant le carnaval. Au cours de ce bal, qui se déroule le samedi soir, les femmes déguisées et masquées (les touloulous) sont maîtresses d'un jeu de rôle qui laisse les cavaliers à la merci de leur choix et de leur facéties. C'est un spectacle haut en couleur, mené au rythme de la musique de carnaval qui révèle bien des attitudes et des comportements.

The pare-masque ball takes place during carnival. During this saturday night ball, women disguised and masked (the touloulous) lead a role play which leaves male dance partners at the mercy of their choices and whims. It is a colorful show taking place to the beat of carnival music and revealing many attitudes and behaviors.

On the Portail St Laurent du Maroni, many women asked people, their husbands especially, to look the other way during the balls:

Poster Pique Niqueuse is a good example:

Eric (LEON) essayes de ne pas me prendre en photo lors de la soirée de Tololo, j'ai eu de grave problème avec mon mec l'année dernière (parce que je fermais les yeux), bref, c'est le grand amour maintenant. Comme quoi c'est la tradition, je te ferai signe ce soir là pour m'éviter ;) . Sinon cette fois-ci il me tuera.

Eric please try not to photograph me during the Touloulou soiree. I had big problems with my beau last year because my eyes were closed. Thank god things are hunky-dory now and we're in love again. It's only tradition. I'll wave at you that night so your camera can skip me ;). Otherwise, this time he'll kill me.

Some were not sure the Touloulou tradition was … democratic enough in its execution. In that vein, La Laurentaise had a special request:

j'espère que les touloulous de st-lo n'arriveront pas à deux heures au bal, et qu'elles feront danser tous les cavaliers, qu'ils soient bons danseurs ou débutants, car il faut un début à tout.

I hope the touloulous of St-Laurent won't show up at the ball at 2 am and that they will make all men dance, whether they are good dancers or beginners, since there is a first time to everything.

…as did Mumu:

l'année dernier les Tololos dansaient toujours avec les même filles c'est pourquoi les filles se font battre par leur mari, ce n'est pas étonnant. Le but c'est de faire tt le monde s'amuser je crois que certain n'ont pas compris ça ! c'est dommage.

last year the Tololos always danced with the same people which is why it is not surprising that women got hit by their husbands. The goal is to make everyone have fun. I don't think everyone gets that.

Guadeloupe: Remembering While Away
Chronicling the phenomenon for Guadeloupe, Atout-Guadeloupe writes:

Vaval, c'est parti en Guadeloupe!Dès le 1 janvier 2007, les groupes carnavaliers, se sont rassemblés à Pointe à Pitre! Les rues de Pointes à Pitre, ont vu défiler les premiers carnavaliers, en chemise de nuit, avec les masques, en musique, etc…tout était bon pour marquer le premier jour de Vaval!

Vaval kickoff in Guadeloupe! Starting January 1, 2007, carnival bands assembled in [capital] Pointe-a-Pitre! the streets of Pointe-a-Pitre saw the first carnival enthusiasts in nightgowns, sporting masks, accompanied by music, etc…all being well to mark the first day of Vaval!

… and shows pictures of men dressed as women or as skeletons and of floats from January 1st.

By far the most extensive post on Carnival in Guadeloupe came from Caribbean Gaijin, a Guadeloupean blogger studying in France and Japan, and probably spurred by homesickness:

Voilà! Une nouvelle année qui commence et ça signifie pour beaucoup la renaissance de Vaval, Roi du Carnaval!! Même si je ne suis pas en Guadeloupe par rapport à mes études à Perpète-les-Oies, je ne peux m'empêcher de suivre chaque année l'évolution des manifestations jusqu'à l'apogée des jours Gras !

Here you go! A new year has started and for many it signifies the rebirth of Vaval, King of Carnival! Even though I am not in Guadeloupe because of my studies in Perpete-les-Oies, I can't help but follow every year the evolution of the festivities leading up to the three days of Carnival.

En tous les cas, en Guadeloupe, ce qui est certain, c'est que le carnaval est si populaire que, contrairement à la France métropolitaine, on ne dit pas “vacances d'hiver” mais “vacances de carnaval
Tous les Dimanches , on peut assister au défilé des groupes de carnaval avec les chants, les musiciens et les participants. Ces groupes, selon leur catégorie (groupe à pied (à peau, à cuivre…) ou groupe à char) se font des petites démonstrations d'intimidation : à celui qui aura la meilleure musique, les plus belles danseuses, les meilleurs costumes … une véritable préparation s'effectue dans le choix des chorégraphies, des musiques, des costumes pour les concours des jours Gras!!! Personnellement, j'ai été membre d'un groupe à pied, à cuivre “Guimbo all stars”.

In any event, in Guadeloupe, what is certain is that Carnival is so popular that, contrary to mainland France, we don't say “winter break” but “carnival break”.
Every Sunday, the carnival bands march with songs, musicians and participants. Those groups, depending on their category (by foot, naked i.e. costumeless, with horns or floats) “flex muscle” with each other: who has the best music, the finest dancers, the best costumes … a real preparation takes place in the choice of choreographies, music and costumes for the competitions of the actual Carnival days!!! Personally, I have been a member of a “by foot” band with horns, Guimbo All Stars.

Akiyo mas (Guadeloupe)

Religious Roots of a Fun-filled Festival
The blogger also delved into the religious roots of the festival:

Les jours Gras ne sont pas choisis au hasard: par convention, ils sont fixés à 40 jours jours avant le Carême des chrétiens si je ne me trompes pas; Ces 40 jours correspondent à la durée où le Christ s'est retiré dans le désert où il a résisté à la tentation du Diable.
…
A mon avis, justement, le carnaval permet de décompresser avant le Carême; En effet, tout comme le Rammadan pour les musulmans, c'est une période de jeûne et de pénitence chez les chrétiens.

The [three] “fat” days are not chosen lightly: by convention, they are fixed to 40 days before the Lent of Christians if I remember correctly. Those 40 days are inspired by the duration spent by Jesus-Christ in the desert while resisting Satan's temptation.
…
Carnival in my opinion is a way to have fun before Lent; indeed, just like Ramadan for Moslems, it is a period of fast and penance for Christians.

Competitive v. Old-Fashioned Carnival
Caribbean Gaijin explained some cultural differences between Martinique and Guadeloupe when it comes to carnival:

je pense que les groupes et les concours aux Antilles françaises(donc avec une structuration ) sont spécifiques à la Guadeloupe; En Martinique, les gens se déguisent comme ils veulent et avec les moyens qu'ils ont, puisqu'il n'y a (presque) pas de groupes organisés pour concours de costumes ou de musique.

Ce qui divisent les opinions en deux camps: certains aiment le côté organisé du carnaval guadeloupéen avec ses concours comme les carnavals des îles de Sainte lucie, Trinidad et Tobago et celui du Brésil. D'autres préfèrent le côté “à l'ancienne” , avec les moyens du bord , du carnaval martiniquais.

I think that bands and contests in the French Antilles (i.e. structured carnival) is specific to Guadeloupe. In Martinique, people wear costumes with the means they have since they have very few organized costume or music contests.
That divides opinion in two camps: some like the organization of Guadeloupean carnival with its contests reminiscent of those of Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago and Brazil. Others prefer the old-fashion, do-what-you-can-with-what-you-have style of Martiniquan carnival.

Personnellement, je suis pour le carnaval guadeloupéen car le terme “carnaval à l'ancienne” est beaucoup plus justifié avec les groupes à peau qui, pourtant, sont structurés. Je m'explique: les groupes à peau signifient “groupes à peau nue, sans costume”, du temps de l'esclavage , les gens se contentaient d'enduire leur corps de mélasse, de beurre de roucoux et attachaient autour de la taille des feuilles de bananier séchées et la musique? De simples bidons vides servaient de tambours , accompagnant les conques de lambis (gigantesque escargot de mer) dans lesquels on souffle. … En Martinique, les gens portent des vêtements , certes déchirés ou autre, mais modernes tandis qu”ils courent et sautent dans la rue au son de syntétiseurs …

Personally, I am for Guadeloupean carnival because the word “old-fashioned carnival” is much more justified with “skin bands” which are, against appearances, pretty structured. Skin bands mean “naked bands, without costumes”. During slavery, people covered themselves in molasses, butter and henna and cinched their waists with belts of dried banana leaves. For music? simple empty cans made makeshift drums, accompanied by conch shells (gigantic sea snails) in which you blow. … In Martinique, people wear ripped modern clothing while running and jumping in the streets to the sound of synthesizers …

For more on the topic:
Wikipedia entry on music of Guadeloupe

Clip of a Mas A Kle mas (Guadeloupe):

French Antilles: Retail is Principal Economic Sector

Alice Backer — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 04:52:56 +0000

Says NewMedia (Fr), according to a recent investigation by the French government, retail is the principal economic sector in French overseas departments Guadeloupe, Martinique and Guyane: “Retail encompasses half the businesses but it is wholesale that generates the biggest revenue and highest margin rate (35%).”

Reunion: “Our Creole Stolen By a Guadeloupean”

Alice Backer — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 04:50:27 +0000

Blogger Pierrot Dupuy laments (Fr) that Reunion will be represented by a Reunion-based Guadeloupean professor at an International Creole Festival taking place in Mauritius from December 1st to 3rd. Adds the blogger, the Festival will feature: “a culinary festival, a conference on Creolity and a mega concert featuring Zouk Machine, Francky Vincent, Kaoma and Kassav' alongside Mauritian artists.”

Caribbean Women's Forum

Alice Backer — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 05:22:22 +0000

Collectif Haiti de Provence points to a Radio Kiskeya news article stating (Fr): “The 2d Caribbean Women's Forum ended the evening of November 10th in Fort-de-France, Martinique with the participation of a Haitian delegation led by Feminine Condition Minister Marie-Laurence Jocelyn Lassegue … Delegations from various Caribbean countries (Guadeloupe, Dominica, Saint-Lucia, Haiti, Jamaica, Antigua, Martinique) had a two-day exchange around the theme ‘Women and Decision-making'.”

Guadeloupe: New Travel and Tourism Site

Alice Backer — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 20:13:46 +0000

InternetRapide.com announces (Fr) the launch of www.guadeloupe.fr a new travel information portal dedicated to promoting Guadeloupe as a vacation destination.

Guadeloupe/Martinique, France: Zouk Nostalgia

Alice Backer — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 03:46:26 +0000

Reminiscing Martiniquan/Guadeloupean group Kassav's song “Zouk la se sel medikaman nou ni” [” Zouk is our only medicine”], France-based Oliviermr2 posts a graphic depicting a couple dancing zouk and writes (Fr): “With how cold it is right now, that would be very welcome.”

Martinique/Guadeloupe/Guyane: Voting One Day Early

Alice Backer — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 10:31:15 +0000

Le [Blog de Moi] announces (Fr) that Martiniquans, Guadeloupeans and other overseas French departments will vote one day early in the upcoming French presidential election taking place June 10 and 17, 2007 in mainland France. Explains the blogger “The point is to take into account the time difference and to make sure we don't vote after the results are known.. … To those who are complaining because ‘they have things to do on Saturdays': no comment”

Celebrating the Birth of the Guadeloupean Nation

Alice Backer — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 22:32:01 +0000

On October 21, Convention Pour Une Guadeloupe Nouvelle commemorated a historical moment (October 21, 1801) it identifies as the birth of the Guadeloupean nation and added: “Nation without state, Guadeloupe is eternal and no one can destroy it. Our national rights must be respected by the French authorities that govern us today.” On October 21, 1801 the Guadeloupean army temporarily defeated troops sent by Napoleon to reestablish slavery.

Martinique/Guad./Guyane: Skype Rates and Impact

Alice Backer — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 15:09:41 +0000

InternetRapide.com is excited to offer (Fr) PC to mobile Skype Out rates from France to Martinique, Guadeloupe and Guyane and suspects that Skype products will hinder local providers from successfully developing attractive internet telephony products for those countries.

French Antilles: Arrival of ADSL Technology?

Alice Backer — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 21:07:49 +0000

InternetRapide.com wonders (Fr) whether a recent sign read in a French Guiana telecom store predicts the imminent arrival of ADSL TV in the French Overseas Departments of the Caribbean.