The former deputy, former mayor of Lamentin, former vice-president of the Regional Council, former general councilor of Martinique, founding president of the political movement “Building the Martinique country” bowed out this afternoon. He would have been 90 years old on August 21, 2024.
Pierre Samot, former artisan mason, building entrepreneur and founder of the “Building the Country Martinique” movement in 1998 went to his home in Lamentin this afternoon (June 14, 2024).
Marked by the social cause at a very young age, he joined the Martinique Communist Party in 1952 and campaigned alongside Pierre Zobda Quitman. He experienced the role of elected official as a municipal councilor in Georges Gratiant’s team.
These men presented as builders: Georges Gratiant (1907-1992) and Pierre Zobda-Quitman (1923-1987), respectively mayor and first deputy of the town of Lamentin for around thirty years, instilled in him the essence of politics, the importance of social work, dialogue with the masses, listening to those administered.
His charisma did not escape Georges Gratiant who made him his deputy from 1983 to 1989. It was just after that that he was elected mayor of Lamentin. His election as general councilor in 1987 allowed Martinique voters to discover “his capacity for work and his loyalty”, say his supporters.
In 1995, the Lamentin town hall public procurement affair caused a lot of noise. Pierre Samot is indicted for favoritism and influence peddling and placed in detention for a few days. He won the municipal elections with nearly 85% of the votes.
In 1998, following disagreements on the political line with Georges Erichot, general secretary of the Martinique Communist Party, he clarified his vision and founded with a few dissidents his own party “Building the Martinique country”.
With 84% of the votes, he managed to get re-elected mayor.
He left his mark on the regional elections by obtaining 4 seats and bringing his votes to Alfred Marie-Jeanne during the election of the President of the Assembly.
On June 16, 2002, Pierre Samot was elected deputy in the 3rd constituency of Martinique. He leaves Camille Darsieres (Martinique Progressive Party). His election was invalidated a few months later on February 27, 2003, he was replaced by his deputy Philippe Edmond-Mariette.
At the regional elections in March 2004, his list, “Alliance for the Martinique country” merged in the second round with that led by Madeleine Degrandmaison of the PPM. He was again elected regional councilor.
During the municipal elections of March 2008, Pierre Samot was re-elected at the age of 74 for a 4th term in the first round.
He is also elected President of CACEM (Central Martinique Urban Community),
It was in November 2018 that Pierre Samot ended his mandate as mayor of Lamentin and passed the torch to his first deputy David Zobda. He takes the same approach at the head of his party. He leaves the reins to David Zobda.
Note that during his lifetime he was honored. The community aquatic center is named after Pierre Samot.
Pierre Samot in 10 dates
- 1934: birth in Fort-de-France, August 21
- 1987: general advisor of Lamentin
- 1989: mayor of Lamentin
- 1998: founding president of Bâtir le Pays Martinique
- 1998: regional advisor
- 2002: deputy for the 3rd constituency
- 2008: president of CACEM
- 2018: renounces his mandate as mayor
- 2022: the Lamentin community swimming pool bears his name
- 2024 deaths in his 90th year.
