The head of state had done so on Thursday, three ministers followed him on Friday evening in Paris.
At the end of two days of a round table on the consequences of the 193 nuclear tests in French Polynesia, the executive pledged to assume the responsibilities of the metropolis.
"
French Polynesia has greatly contributed to the construction of our deterrent force and we must assume all the consequences, human, societal, health, environmental and economic
", declared Geneviève Darrieussecq, Minister for Memory and Veterans Affairs , alongside its counterparts in Health, Armies and Overseas.
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In an annex to Matignon, the Polynesian delegation Reko Tika (Word of Truth) devoted the morning to health issues, under the chairmanship of the Minister of Health Olivier Véran. "
According to our data from the Social Security Fund (local social security), Polynesian women, between 40 and 50 years old, have the highest rate of thyroid cancer in the world,
" Patrick Galenon told AFP, former chairman of the board of directors of SPC. The thyroid being a very sensitive organ, ionizing rays have, according to him, an important effect in utero and in the first years after birth. He estimates that the CPS has spent 670 million euros for radiation-induced diseases since 1985, and wishes the reimbursement of these expenses by France.
"
This is a request which seems legitimate to us for victims who have been the subject of compensation by the CIVEN (Compensation Committee for Victims of Nuclear Tests
", replied Olivier Véran. The sums supported would however be minimal. if they only concerned victims who have already been compensated.On the other hand, the government has undertaken to fund research on these cancers, but also to facilitate compensation for victims by simplifying administrative procedures.
The Minister of Health has also offered medical support through internship positions in medicine.
He did not commit to the creation of a Cancer Institute in Tahiti, but according to Patricia Grand, Honorary President of the League against cancer in Polynesia, the project is on track.
The ministers suggested that the most important announcements would await the Head of State's visit, scheduled for Papeete on July 25.
On environmental issues, Overseas Minister Sébastien Lecornu wished to "
definitely turn the page on these polluted lands
" with regard to the peripheral atolls of the Pacific Experiments Center, such as that of Hao, in the Tuamotu archipelago.