Thierry Gadault

A freelance economic journalist, he has worked for La Tribune, l'Expansion and le Nouvel Économiste.

Marc Laimé 

A water and sanitation consultant for local authorities, he has become the undisputed expert on water management in France and the bête noire of majors in monopolistic positions. He is the author of reference works and a website on the subject, particularly

“Guadeloupe, the island without water” published by Massot.

For over ten years, Guadeloupe's 400,000 inhabitants have been dying of thirst, even though their bills are nearly twice as expensive as those in mainland France. Water cuts have become a daily occurrence, even though the island is teeming with them!

This scandal illustrates all the flaws of a "French evil" that is embodied to the point of caricature in the Antilles: between mismanagement, corruption, a Kafkaesque political and administrative system, the island is at the end of its rope, its economy hit hard. In ten years, it will probably no longer be possible to swim there, tourism will not survive.

Two billion euros to be found: the ruined drinking water distribution network must be rebuilt. A proper sanitation network must be created, and aquatic environment pollution (such as chlordecone) must be combated. Despite soothing announcements, the state and local authorities are unwilling and unable to finance this colossal project.

As the island sinks into a triple crisis: social, health and financial, "Guadeloupe, the island without water" reveals the root causes of this disaster and reveals what goes on behind the scenes, supported by exclusive documents and testimonies.

A question arises at the end of this in-depth investigation: who would imagine for a single moment such a disaster striking a metropolitan department? And that the State's only response would be to propose "autonomy" to the island?