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![[Flag]](../images/m/mq23.gif)
image by Olivier Touzeau, 2 January 2023
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A process to introduce a flag aimed at "representing Martinique in international culture and sports events" was inaugurated on 10 May 2019.
On November 15, 2021, the administrative court of Fort-de-France ruled that this flag and the anthem chosen in 2019 by the former president of the executive council of the territorial collectivity of Martinique, Alfred Marie-Jeanne, should no longer be used. The judges demonstrated that he had made this choice alone, ignoring the legal functioning of the community. "This decision therefore disregards the rules of jurisdiction between the different bodies of the territorial collectivity of Martinique and is therefore illegal", wrote the magistrates. Source: https://www.lepoint.fr/politique/martinique-le-tribunal-administratif-supprime-le-drapeau-ipseite-16-11-2021-2452285_20.php
The territorial community of Martinique launched, from November 7
to December 2, 2022, a popular consultation to choose an official flag
and anthem of the island for sporting and cultural events. She called
on all Martiniquais to make their proposals on these sites:
https://consultation-hymne.collectivitedemartinique.mq for the anthem
https://consultation-drapeau.collectivitedemartinique.mq for the flag
Before submitting their proposals, participants must complete a questionnaire intended to guarantee that they are indeed Martinican, since they must have resided in Martinique for at least five years or exercise their main activity on the island. Or, failing that, have "a personal or family link with the territory". The form restricts postal addresses to the 34 municipalities on the island.
In a petition launched online at the end of October, a group of
citizens is already demanding recognition of the red-green-black flag.
Serge Letchimy, who currently chairs the executive council of
Martinique, pleads for official recognition of this emblem. “I am not
in an extremist position, but I am for a specific color that everyone
knows. I am for the recognition of the struggles that have taken place
for decades. I am in favor of the red-green-black flag,” he said on
October 28.
Source:
https://www.leparisien.fr/martinique-972
Olivier Touzeau, 14 November 2022
1,215 contributions were received
for the flag (1,204 online and 11 by post or at the polls); 464 contributions
were received for the anthem (including 457 online and 7 by post or at the
polls).
A technical committee made up of experts from civil society and
qualified Martinican personalities, commissioned by the ad hoc Commission,
analyzed the proposals received within the framework of the call for projects,
on the basis of the selection criteria decided by the Assembly of Martinique.
This committee wrote a technical report proposed to the ad hoc Commission which
designated the proposals for anthems and flags that the Assembly of Martinique
could then, sovereignly, decide to submit to the consultation of the population.
19 flags were selected, and the Assembly of Martinique approved their
submission for consultation on December 22. The vote is organized in 2 rounds: -
First round: from Monday January 2, 2023 at 9 a.m. to Saturday January 7, 2023
at 7 p.m.; the two anthems and the two flags having obtained the greatest number
of votes are put to the vote of the population for the second round - Second
round: from Sunday January 8, 2023 at 9 a.m. to Friday January 13, 2023 at 7
p.m.
Voters must be adults or be authorized by their parents in the case
of minors, and be domiciled in the Territorial Collectivity of Martinique for at
least 5 years or have a family link with Martinique. The vote is organized
online (at
https://vote-hymne-drapeau.collectivitedemartinique.mq) and physically at
the headquarters of the community and the assembly of Martinique.
The
anthem and the flag will be used to represent the people of Martinique locally
and abroad, on the occasion of sporting and cultural events, as well as on the
occasion of exchanges within the framework of Caribbean and international
cooperation.
Olivier Touzeau, 2 January 2023
Voting on the national symbols of Martinque has resumed after a cyberattack
last week brought down the consultation site.
https://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/martinique/drapeau-et-hymne-la-deuxieme-phase-du-vote-est-en-cours-1355558.html
The two finalists are the traditional rouge-vert-noir flag and the
hummingbird flag. The winner will apparently be known by the end of the week.
Brendan Hennessy, 11 January 2023
![[Flag]](../images/m/mq-2022.gif)
image located by Olivier Touzeau, 2 January 2023
A few days before the final vote of the elected members of the Assembly of Martinique, on the choice of the flag and an anthem, the emblem chosen by the 26,000 Martinicans is no longer in competition:
Victim of cyberbullying, its designer Anaïs Delwaulle throws in the
towel.
Cyberbullying is a form of digital violence characterized by
harassment, which can take place through various digital channels. The red,
green, black flag adorned with a hummingbird in flight had won 72% of the votes
of the popular consultation organized in Martinique. 26,633 people took part in
the vote, with 19,400 voting in favor of the flag adorned with a hummingbird. It
immediately raised many questions about the use of the hummingbird, a
royalty-free image, the use of which is regulated by Shutterstock under very
specific conditions.
This Monday evening (January 23, 2023), the
president of the executive council of the territorial collectivity of Martinique
takes note of the decision of Mrs. Anaïs Delwaulle, winner of the popular
consultation for the "Flag of Martinique" to withdraw from the competition.
"A new classification will be established with this withdrawal, flag n°891
taking the first place. This classification will be transmitted to the Assembly
of Martinique, which will deliberate freely on the final choice of the anthem
and the flag of Martinique. The elected representatives of the Martinique
Assembly will make their final decision on February 2 and 3, 2023."
Serge Letchimy, Chairman of the CTM Executive Council.
According to https://www.instagram.com/anaisdelwaulle (Instagram account of the author of the hummingbird flag), Mrs Delwaulle was accused to have stolen the design to a local association, Madousiwo, a very similar flag having been observed during the carnaval in 2020. Mrs Delwaulle explains that in fact she had drawn the flag in January 2019 (for the first consultation on the flag of Martinique), published if on social networks in April 2019, and had been modified and flown during carnaval 2020 by an association.
More informations from:
https://viaatv.tv/drapeau-de-la-martinique-la-creatrice-de-letendard-au-colibri-sexprime-apres-la-polemique/
"The designer indicates besides that she purchased a royalty-free image
available on Shutterstock to modify her original creation and modernize the
hummingbird. If this license authorizes unlimited use for printing, advertising,
packaging or merchandising, it does not allow its modification. The hummingbird
that appears on the new emblem chosen by the Martinicans uses a royalty-free
image of the Uzbek designer "FoxyBear". The color of the hummingbird, initially
multicolored on the image bank, has been retouched. It is therefore a black
hummingbird that appears in the center of the banner. "In all transparency, I
did not know that it did not come into account in the license", defends the
designer.
On social networks, the hummingbird has sparked controversy. There
is even talk of a "Colibri Gate". Many questions and testimonies of
dissatisfaction arose. "Serious???? Our flag is the hummingbird! No I refuse",
wrote a first on Twitter. "I don't know about you but on my flag there is ZERO
hummingbird and there never will be", protests another on the same network.
Everyone went there with their explanation. In an attempt to put an end to it,
Anas Delwaulle justified this choice. "We go from the nasty snake to the nice
hummingbird," she begins. "Due to the fact that the hummingbird has the ability
to fly backwards, it symbolizes the ability to look to the past, while
continuing with one's life. It symbolizes the faculty of the heart to open up
again and to heal itself despite the wounds and to continue to move forward. The
energy of the hummingbird symbolizes vigor and constant activity. The movement
of its wings can be seen as an infinite symbol. The hummingbird also symbolizes
peace and respect thanks to its noble and quiet character, she develops."
(end of the article)
It should be added that, although contacted by the
French Vexillological Society (SFV) who offered its help before the
consultation, the Territorial collectivity of Martinique did not answer the
offer.
Olivier Touzeau, 25 January 2023
image by Olivier Touzeau, 3 February 2023
The flag proposal no.891 is the famous Red-Green-Black flag flown by autonomists and independantists in Martinique.
From
https://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/martinique/l-assemblee-de-martinique-approuve-le-drapeau-rouge-vert-noir-1363026.html:
The elected representatives of the Assembly of Martinique spoke during
the plenary session of February 2, 2023 on the Martinican flag. They voted
unanimously for the flag representing a red triangle and two green and black
quadrilaterals. It will be visible in cultural and sporting events. Used for a
long time by Martinicans in the fields of sport, culture or politics, although
it was only unofficial, the Red Green Black flag is officially recognized by the
elected officials of Martinique.
Before the vote, Catherine Conconne,
leader of the group "La Martinique Ensemble", wanted this theme to be
accompanied by speaking time to hear the different points of view. Lucien
Salibert the President of the Assembly finally granted 10 minutes to the various
groups of the hemicycle.
Francis Carole (Gran Sanblé Pou Matinik), first
responder, wished the procedure to be cancelled. "The procedure is tainted with
irregularity. Break of neutrality of the person who engages the contest and who
makes the decision. The choice of a flag must meet rigorous standards. (...)
Another plenary must be organized on the basis of a report."
Catherine
Conconne (La Martinique Ensemble) declared that the flag which is submitted to
the vote, is for her solemnly legitimate. "The desire to involve the people in
the choice of the flag is commendable and I will not question it.(....) To
accept these colors is to pay homage to the people of Martinique. These three
colors have arisen from our time. My Martinican conscience guides me. (...) I
ask the president to find all the means so that there is an agreement both
between the elected officials and also in the population so that the red, the
green and the black are the emblematic and symbolic colors of Martinique."
Marcellin Nadeau (Ansanm Pou Péyi Nou), strongly attached to the flag of
historic struggles, emphasized the procedure chosen by the majority.
"Admittedly, there were a few hiccups. That this procedure be the subject of an
annulment. But this flag is the continuity of the battles fought. In addition to
the identity dimension, this flag speaks of the dignity and struggles of
Martiniquans."
For Jean-Claude Duvergé (Allians Matinik), the people have
spoken. "I belong to a party which says that the best technicians are the people
of Martinique themselves. We interviewed the best business technicians in
Martinique. The people have spoken."
For Didier Laguerre (Allians
Matinik), "the question of the day, leads Martinican elected officials to take
their responsibilities. We are taking an additional step towards the awareness
of our Martinican reality.
Two votes were organized at the end of the
debates. The elected officials rejected the proposal to cancel the procedure by
31 votes out of 46 voting votes . They approved the choice of the red green
black flag by 45 votes and one abstention.
Serge Letchimy President of
the CTM Executive Council, declared:
"This Thursday, February 2, 2023, we are
living a historic moment of awareness, overcoming and unity of the Martinican
people. It is in no way an act of independence, autonomy, or from sterile
abandonment to separatism. On the contrary, it is a question of associating,
linking, gathering, putting together new fervor to allow our youth to better
look to tomorrow. We are a people with a history, a culture and an
identity. It is a question of conquering a broader fraternity. It is about
opening a new page for our country."
Olivier Touzeau, 2 February 2023