In the French Caribbean, the island of Guadeloupe is facing a complete power outage following an emergency shutdown initiated by striking workers at the local power station. According to the Guadeloupe prefecture, employees entered the command room of the power station located in the industrial area of Jarry and caused all engines to shut down.
This power disruption occurs amid ongoing unrest across French overseas territories, including Guadeloupe, Martinique, and New Caledonia. Residents in these areas have voiced their frustrations over living conditions that fall short of those on the French mainland.
In response to the crisis, local police have stepped in, and the prefect has taken measures to requisition staff to expedite the restoration of power. Marie-Line Bassette, director of EDF—the company responsible for providing electricity in Guadeloupe—condemned the actions of the striking workers, stating to France Télévisions that it is “irresponsible to go as far as a blackout to deprive all of Guadeloupe of electricity for demands when there are means to manage this type of situation.”
The French government, through Energy Minister Olga Givernet, has mobilized services and operators to restore power as quickly as possible. The labor dispute involving the CGT union and EDF has been ongoing since September 15, centering on wage issues.
Daily life in Jarry, home to nearly 380,000 residents, has been significantly impacted over the past week due to these power outages. Leon Prosper Jimmy, an ambulance driver in Pointe-à-Pitre, shared how the blackout has complicated patient care in apartment buildings without functioning elevators. “We have to carry them,” he explained, often relying on the fire brigade or other services for assistance. “We manage as best we can,” he added.
In light of the emergency, the CHUG hospital center has activated backup generators to ensure that “critical operations” can continue for up to 72 hours. Meanwhile, residents are stocking up on bottled water as the territory’s water supply has also started to be affected. Many supermarket shelves are empty due to disrupted supply chains.
Guadeloupe is independent in managing its own electricity needs, lacking interconnection agreements with other countries. Approximately 70% of its power generation relies on thermal methods, primarily through burning fuel oil or wood pellets.
In Martinique, protests against rising living costs have intensified, with demonstrators confronting police and clashing during attempts to clear roadblocks. The local administration reported that tensions escalated as protesters attempted to commandeer a fuel truck, resulting in one arrest and warnings from businesses about the “catastrophic” effects of the unrest on the local economy.
