France, June 1 -- The French state continues to deny responsibility in the chlordecone scandal, after authorising the use of the pesticide for years in banana plantations in Martinique and Guadeloupe. RFI met with several victims who are calling those responsible to account and seeking compensation.

The French state has recently filed an appeal against the decision of a Pariscourtof 11 March, which ruled that the state should compensate people who have been exposed to chlordecone.

The move has angered victims in the French overseas departments of Martinique and Guadeloupe.

"I used to make boxes to pack bananas and stick the labels on," said one woman, who has always lived among the banana plantations in Martinique, a few steps from the...