At the end of the seventeenth century, the famous "Father Labat" is the priest of the town of Macouba. At that time, the house situated on the edge of the River Roche was a sugar factory.
History
Macouba is a town in the North Atlantic of Martinique. It is located east of Grand'Rivère, west of Basse-Pointe and north of Prêcheur.
The town of Macouba owes its name to a freshwater fish whose flesh was esteemed. Macouba, also called « têtard » (meaning tadpole), would have been one of the favorite dishes of Father Labat who lived in the town at the end of the 17th century. He spoke of it in his writings when he spoke of the territory of the current Macouba commune "As for the freshwater fish, they were mules, sleepers, tadpoles or macoubas, and crayfish".
The pre-colonization history of the municipality of Macouba remains unknown. The oldest sources put us back after colonization when in 1694, Father Labat was sent there with the aim of serving the parish: “On Saturday February 13, I therefore received from our superior general the parish of Macouba, which is four leagues west of the Saint-Jacques fund." At that time the town already had the name we still use today. Father Labat will officiate in the small Sainte Anne church built during the 17th century and which is often considered the oldest of the churches on the island.
Hiding a marine cemetery clinging to the cliff, the small 17th century church of Sainte-Anne, although often restored, has been able to retain over the years its wooden frame mounted like the hulls of ships.
Later, the economic life of Macouba will be organized around its high quality tobacco plantations which were produced there. It is also the name of the town that will be used to name it when it is sold in Europe. Macouba tobacco was among the most famous tobacco in Europe. However, with competition from other islands, it is towards the cultivation of sugar cane that the parish will turn.
Large sugar houses were established there during the 18th and 19th centuries. Among these dwellings was a dwelling located on the banks of the Roche River. In 1790, Antoine Leroux-Préville, a white Creole acquired it and gave it its current name of Fonds-Préville. Today, it covers an area of 1 hectare. The cane distilled today is used for the production of JM rum from Habitation Bellevue with an area of approximately 50 hectares.
Cocoa and coffee plantations have also enjoyed a good reputation in the markets.
After the abolition of slavery, the “Koulis” Indians who arrived on the island to replace the slaves in the fields worked there and contributed to the wealth of the town. This is also why it is the town with its neighbor Basse-Pointe which has one of the largest communities of Indian descendants today.
Today the small town of Macouba is known not only for its JM rum but also for its Nord-Plage district which was the subject of a film.
Economy
It is an essentially agricultural commune. Besides its JM rum, it is largely covered with banana plantations, the fruits of which are destined for export. Fishing is only possible in fresh river waters or through the practice of aquaculture. Indeed, access to the sea is highly dangerous due to the strong swells of the Atlantic Ocean.
Neighborhoods
The municipality's main districts are Bellevue, Cheneaux, Fonds-Préville, Guérin, Nord-Plage, Perpigna, Potiche, Terre Patate and Lotissement de Macouba.
