The Baku Initiative Group (BIG) has prepared a report titled “Stolen Prosperity: How Colonialism Suppressed Economic Freedom in Overseas Territories,” which analyzes in detail the negative impact of France’s colonial policy on its overseas territories, Report informs.

The document details the destruction and exploitation of natural resources in these French regions.

Specifically, it emphasizes that illegal deforestation, water pollution, and many other environmental crimes, committed with French authorities’ complicity, contribute to environmental degradation in overseas territories. The report’s authors emphasize that these actions have serious economic and social consequences for overseas territories: they harm vulnerable groups, infringe on indigenous peoples’ rights, and contribute to biodiversity loss.

Furthermore, France’s colonial policy erases cultural identity and contributes to the decline of the indigenous population in overseas territories. The report emphasizes that achieving a sustainable and equitable future requires eliminating all forms of colonialism, including its modern manifestations such as neocolonialism.

“Regarding demographics, population decline in overseas regions and falling birth rates in several of them indicate possible human capital loss and continued dependence on foreign remittances in the future,” the document notes.

BIG, citing open sources, provides data on declining tourist flows to overseas territories as a clear example of economic freedom suppression. The report notes that North American tourists, who were previously the main visitors to Guadeloupe and Martinique, have decreased significantly. In Guadeloupe, their share dropped from 50% in 1967 to 5% in 2012.

A similar sharp decline occurred in Martinique, where visitor numbers fell from nearly 50% in 1970 to 1.9% in 2006. European tourists (excluding French) also showed declining interest, comprising only 3.4% and 5.4% of tourists in Réunion and Martinique respectively in 2006.

Cruise tourism, crucial for these territories, has also suffered massive losses: “In just 15 years, Guadeloupe and Martinique lost 85% of their cruise ship tourists.” High prices not only deter potential visitors but also limit investment in overseas territories. Limited public sector jobs make employment impossible for all seekers, exacerbating unemployment, which poses a serious threat to these regions.

In 2020, unemployment remained high at 22% in both La Réunion and Guadeloupe. Youth are particularly affected: in Martinique, over half (45%) of officially registered unemployed in 2020 were young people aged 15-24. BIG concludes that modern colonial states, including France, face complex economic situations.

“France’s main interest lies in natural resources and political benefits from retaining these territories,” the report states. The study suggests that high unemployment in four overseas territories – Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, and Réunion – will persist in the coming years.