PARIS: A representative from Guadalupe Island, a French overseas territory, has raised alarming concerns about the quality of drinking water, describing it as “poisonous” during a press conference. The event was organized to present the “Report on Human Rights Violations in French Overseas Territories,” highlighting the persistent issue of water contamination in the region.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, M. Florent, Deputy Secretary General of the Guadalupe Island UPLG, emphasized the severity of the situation, stating, “The water problem is one of the permanent problems that cannot be solved.” Florent detailed the ongoing struggle with water quality, noting that efforts to purify water using rainwater have proven ineffective. The drinking water, tainted with the chemical chlorodicone, poses a significant health risk, rendering it unfit not only for human consumption but also for agricultural use.

The contamination has dire implications for the island’s economy, particularly its banana export industr
y. “Our drinking water was poisoned with the substance chlorodicone, and our water is now toxic, even unfit for agriculture. Our country is engaged in the export of bananas. Because we use this water, our farms are being poisoned,” Florent explained. The report underscores the urgent need for intervention to address the water crisis affecting both the health of residents and the viability of agricultural practices on the island.