2024-10-24 03:30:00
The very high tension does not decrease in Martinique. New violence rocked the island in the night between Tuesday and Wednesday, reported the prefecture of the Antilles island, under night curfew.
“This night again, hooded and armed individuals tried to sow chaos in Martinique”, deplores in a statement the prefecture of this island territory where weapons circulate massively.
Barricades on fire
“Firefighters and gendarmes were targeted three times by several dozen repeated bursts of automatic weapons fire in Schoelcher“, near Fort-de-France, the same source indicates, reporting the robbery of a motorist and the burning of his vehicle. It also reports “seven barricades, often set on fire”, erected in four municipalities in the area, including Fort-de-France.
“Many criminals threw Molotov cocktails and projectiles at the police and gendarmes”, specifies the prefecture, assuring that blockades with “overturned” vehicles were still underway in Fort-de-France.
This new night of violence is part of a context of increased tension in recent days on this island of around 350,000 inhabitants, in a context of mobilization against the high cost of living. Faced with “these tragic events” and “significant destruction”, the prefecture announced on Wednesday that companies with fewer than 400 employees will be able to turn to the departmental consultant for companies in difficulty (CDED), to be directed towards the most adequate. In addition to this support, the prefect will meet this Thursday the departmental commission for examining business financing problems (CODEFI) to “discuss” these difficulties.
The extended curfew
On Monday the curfew, in force since October 10, was extended across the entire territory, from midnight to 5 am, until October 28. A measure also accompanied by restrictions on the sale and transport of petrol and the use of pyrotechnic devices.
Despite a memorandum of understanding signed in particular by the prefect, the Territorial Collectivity of Martinique and several economic actors to reduce the prices of thousands of food products by “20% on average”, the mobilization against the high cost of living continues. Even the Rallying for the Protection of Afro-Caribbean Peoples and Resources (RPPRAC), at the origin of the movement, refused to sign the agreement, considering it insufficient.
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