José Toribio

Born on November 2, 1951 in Lamentin, José Toribio is a child of a family of four children. His father was a civil servant at the Lamentin town hall, and also a general councillor. A few years later, he would become general councillor, then president of the General Council and then senator, a rich political career. Inspired by his father's career, he began at a very early age, more precisely at the age of 8, to take an interest in political organization in Guadeloupe. He also took an interest in the associative life of his native town. He completed his primary and secondary studies in the town of Pointe-à-Pitre, and later went to France in 1970 to finish his secondary studies in the field of political science. He began at the University of Paris II – Panthéon-Assas, where in 1975 he obtained a law degree, then at the University of Paris II – Panthéon-Assas he obtained a DEA in public law in 1976. Finally, at the University of Paris II – Panthéon-Assas, he completed a DEA in political studies in 1978. He speaks several languages, including French, English, Spanish, Italian, Creole and Latin.

In 1979, he decided to return to his homeland, Guadeloupe, and campaigned for the town hall position with his father's support. It is a fusion between father and son throughout his political life and one that is a pillar in his social life in the service of his country. Then in 1992, he ran in the cantonal elections and the results were positive, since he was elected to the General Council on Sunday, March 22, 1992. José Toribio is a man of action, but also one with experience that he was able to gain thanks to that of his father, who is his daily guide. With a very self-assured temperament and a strong character, he is very persuasive when it comes to finding resources and solutions for the material and economic well-being of his canton. Until 2004, he was president of the General Council, but he would program his party solo, creating his party “Gauche Alternative.” It is composed of 7 general councillors who are today the general councillor in Guadeloupe. It is the strength and the majority of President Jacques Gillot. Since 2008, he has been the mayor of the town of Lamentin. He is a football lover, and he is a big fan of the Guadeloupe Football League called “Gwada Bos.” José Toribio, who is now the secretary general of the PSG, the Guadeloupe Socialist Party, has told his citizens that he will vote in the 2012 presidential election for Jean-Luc Mélenchon. The Antilles are also very involved in French political life, and he announced on RCI radio, “I will try to convince them that he is the best candidate for 2012.” Indeed, Jean-Luc Mélenchon is a long-time friend of José Toribio, but more than their friendship, their political ideas are shared through their socialist influence, with which they together adopt the ideas of this workers' movement that, according to him, has become somewhat more bourgeois, to his great regret.