Demolition of the old Carrefour Market has begun

For the past two weeks, excavators and trucks have been working intensely on the site of the former Carrefour Market in Rivière-Salée.

On the night of October 11-12, 2024, the supermarket was set on fire and destroyed during violent clashes that erupted alongside protests against the high cost of living in Martinique.

The store left behind only a weakened structure and rotting food; this caused significant discomfort for local residents for months, including foul odors and rat infestations.

According to Jean Jacques Soutarson, the second deputy director responsible for security at the Rivière Salée town hall, the commencement of the work is the result of a long and structured administrative procedure.

"The demolition permit has been approved and work can begin," explains the elected official, noting that the land belongs to a private owner, therefore he is the sole decision-maker regarding the work schedule and possible reconstruction.

A void in the heart of the city
Residents have been waiting for progress on this issue for over a year.

"The people of Rivière-Salée demanded this market because Carrefour Market was a meeting and idea exchange place, a friendly space located right in the heart of Rivière-Salée."

Jean Jacques Soutarson, the second deputy mayor of Rivière-Salée responsible for security.
According to him, the disappearance of the supermarket created a real void in the town, forcing many residents to travel to other municipalities for shopping.

A scene shared by Nicolas, a resident of Rivière-Salée.

"The residents of Salé are waiting for a new one. The supermarket had been there for a long time, so it left a void in the Salé area. People were going to more distant places, and this was a loss of income for everyone."

Nicolas, a resident of Rivière-Salée
Two months of supervised work
The demolition is expected to take approximately two months. It is a complex project, especially due to the necessity of separating the waste from the burned building.

Metal structures, concrete, or industrial materials must be separated so that they can be integrated into different recycling streams.

"We break things, but we also need to know how to fix them," explains Jean Jacques Soutarson.

For now, no construction permit applications have been submitted to the municipality. However, the municipality hopes that a new project will emerge in the area soon.

The town hall hopes for a modern reconstruction.
The mayor of Rivière-Salée welcomed the start of the demolition work and said he now awaits the reconstruction project.

"Of course, we need a modern, innovative vehicle here that adds value (...) The entire population of the Southern Caribbean hopes for the revival of this vehicle."

André Lesueur, Mayor of Rivière-Salée

Demolition of the old Carrefour Market has begun

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