The tweet of a member for Guyana, Gabriel Serville (GDR), denouncing, photo in support, the exorbitant price of an organic farm chicken imported by plane and sold 51, 41 euros in Saint-Martin, created indignation on the internet, relaunching the problem of expensive life in Overseas.
“Hello @ULesCommercants. Do we not have breeding chains in the French West Indies Guyana to import by air chickens billed at 51 euros while 20% of the Antilleans and 45% of the Guyanese live on less than 420 euros per month, ”said the deputy in his tweet, with a photo of the U brand chicken, taken in a store on the island of Saint-Martin, in the Antilles.
Hello @ULesCommercants. Do we not have livestock production chains in #Antilles #Guyana to import by air chickens billed 51 euros while 20% of West Indians and 45% of Guyanese live on less than 420 euros per month ?? # ecocide # viechère #pwofitasyon pic.twitter.com/SVTrq0E9H0
– Gabriel Serville (@GabrielServille) January 16, 2020
Her message, published on Thursday, has since been retweeted more than 5,000 times.
“But who pays 51 euros for the chicken?” Even already roasted it does not cost 51 euros in mainland France, ”asks an internet user. “Chicken at this price, I hope it was in business class with a glass of champagne on the plane,” said another.
“In March, I wrote to Edouard Philippe to ask for something to fight against the high cost of living while supermarkets are stuffing themselves with margins of up to 55% on everyday consumer products in the French Guiana Antilles. No answer, ”added the MP in another tweet.
.@EPhilippePM and @BrunoLeMaire 10 months later, my letter on dear life is still waiting for an answer. In the meantime, predatory companies are gorging themselves on the backs of the Antilleans and Guyanese by selling them chickens for 50 euros. https://t.co/0lP4YZRLT7 pic.twitter.com/EfbGVZ8Pjw
– Gabriel Serville (@GabrielServille) January 16, 2020
“No local production” according to System U
“The explanation for this price is unfortunately simple: there is no local production, and organic chickens are chickens that fly,” said a spokesperson for System U on Friday.
“This chicken, in mainland France, is sold for 10.75 euros per kg, but when transported by air, the kg of goods costs 12 euros to transport, so for a chicken of 2 kg we arrive at a price of 45 euros, to which are added taxes, marketing costs and the merchant’s margin. Hence a final price of 51 euros “
“This price may seem exorbitant,” continues the spokesman, “but there are people who come to St-Martin, who want to find organic imported products and are ready to pay this price. (…) Customers have gotten into this habit and are demanding these products from us “, He assures.
In the Caribbean island, his brand also offers “chickens at much lower prices, transported by sea and frozen, from France,” said the spokesman.
According to Gabriel Serville, a bill was passed in 2012 to make it mandatory for all supermarkets in reserve a place for local productions but, according to him, it is not applied “for lack of an implementing decree”.
Last July, the competition authority pointed out that prices were on average 12% higher than in mainland France and even higher by 19% (Mayotte) to 38% (Martinique) for food alone.
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