Farmers in Guadeloupe Protest Circus Installation at Key Market Location
Tensions are rising at the Gourdeliane Velodrome parking in Baie-Mahault, Guadeloupe, as local farmers voice their strong opposition to a recent decision. The farmers, who have been utilizing the space for their markets on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, allege that the Regional Council of Guadeloupe has authorized the installation of a circus on their established market grounds. The Council, however, denies these claims and assures the public of its commitment to the farmers.
A Growing Dispute
On Sunday morning (March 1, 2026), approximately fifty members of the Regional Association of Agricultural Operators (AREA) gathered at the Amédée-Detraux Velodrome parking lot, some having arrived the previous evening. They are protesting the planned arrival of a circus, which they fear will displace their agricultural market – a vital outlet for local produce, livestock, and seafood, operating since November 2004. Adding to the frustration, a go-kart track has also been established on land traditionally used by travelling fairs in Guadeloupe.
The farmers view this as a prioritization of entertainment over the local agricultural economy. “It’s through an intermediary that we learned a circus would be coming! The head of the Regional Council’s heritage department contacted me personally last week to inform me of the plans,” stated one farmer. They argue that the existing market space is already insufficient, particularly on Wednesdays when attendance is highest.
Farmers Feel Disrespected
The farmers express a deep sense of frustration, feeling consistently overlooked by the authorities. “Somewhere, this means they prioritize amusement, a circus, over Guadeloupean production. Will Guadeloupeans eat circus acts tomorrow morning?! They’ve been making fun of us for too long! Every time there’s a demonstration, they move us!” exclaimed a protesting farmer.
A chain was erected at the parking lot entrance as a symbolic gesture of resistance.
The Regional Council Responds
Ruddy Blonbou, Chief of Staff for the Regional Council of Guadeloupe, maintains that no final decision has been made regarding the circus’s location. The Council subsequently released a press statement reaffirming its commitment to the farmers and the Gourdeliane agricultural market.
“The Regional Council of Guadeloupe wishes to clearly reaffirm its commitment to the farmers and economic actors who have been sustaining the Gourdeliane agricultural market in Baie Mahault for over twenty years,” the statement reads. “Aware of the essential role played by this sales point, established on the Gourdeliane Velodrome parking lot since 2004, the Regional Council confirms that no changes to the current occupancy conditions will be made to the detriment of the farmers and merchants operating there.”
Seeking Alternative Solutions
The Council states that alternative locations around the velodrome, on either Regional or privately-owned land, have been proposed to the circus professionals. Discussions are ongoing to identify a suitable site for the Cirque Suarez that will not disrupt the agricultural market. The Council emphasizes that maintaining the economic activity of local producers remains a top priority.
The Regional Council also highlighted its ongoing efforts to develop a permanent regional market, a project initiated in 2021 and continuing in consultation with farmer and wholesaler representatives.
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