I got stuck in Martinique for a couple of weeks a few years ago waiting for a sail repair <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />. I’d go back in a minute.
Around the ship yards and in the larger population areas English was no problem.
Away from there communication took some effort on both parties but really no problem.
Agree that FdF is just another Big city with the same issues as most but St. Anne and St.Pierre with others are phenomenal.