Contemporary Negotiations

Today's French Caribbean exists in complex relationship with France:

Political Status

- Full French departments with representation in Parliament - European Union membership (until Brexit for some) - Autonomy movements remain active but minority - 2010 referendum in Martinique and French Guiana rejected increased autonomy

"We're in a strange position," admits Serge Letchimy, former president of Martinique's Regional Council. "We have French passports but Caribbean hearts. We benefit from French social systems but suffer from economic dependence. Independence isn't the only answer—we need new forms of sovereignty."

Economic Dependence

The colonial economy's legacies persist: - Import dependence: 80-90% of food imported - Public sector dominance: Government largest employer - Tourism focus: Service economy replacing agriculture - Brain drain: Youth emigration to metropolitan France

"We went from producing sugar for Europe to consuming European products," observes economist Philippe Gustin. "The chains changed form but dependency remains."

Memory Wars

How colonial history is remembered remains contentious: - Debates over statues (Josephine in Martinique, Schœlcher across islands) - Street naming controversies - Museum representations - School curriculum disputes

"Memory isn't neutral," states Christiane Taubira, former French Justice Minister from Guiana. "How we remember shapes how we imagine our futures. That's why these debates matter."