Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Sayyed Khamenei: Us knows that intervention in Israeli aggression on Iran will leave them damaged far more than they could do Iran.
Sayyed Khamenei: Israeli enemy committed a grave error, one it must be punished for.
Sayyed Khamenei: US' intervention in support of Israeli entity in aggression against us is indicative of entity's weakness.
Sayyed Khamenei: We had expected in advance that the US would intervene for "Israel", which is becoming more apparent day after day.
Sayyed Khamenei: Iranian people will not submit or surrender to anyone.
Sayyed Khamenei: Iranian people will stand tall, strong against any imposed "peace" just as it once did against the imposed war.
Sayyed Khamenei: Let the US know that any military intervention will bring forth repercussions they could never mend.
Sayyed Khamenei: The US must learn that the Iranian people will not surrender, and does not submit to diktats and threats.
Sayyed Khamenei: War will be met with war, bombardment with bombardment, strikes with strikes.
Sayyed Khamenei: The Iranian people's steadfastness against the Israeli aggression reflects the awareness of our people.

Violent protests erupt in Martinique amid rising living costs

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 20 Sep 2024 07:49
  • 3 Shares
3 Min Read

The French Caribbean island has witnessed dramatic scenes of burning vehicles and destroyed buildings, prompting officials to impose a curfew.

Listen
  • x
  • A car burns in Martinique on Tuesday following a night of riots amid protests over the high cost of living. (AFP/Getty Images)
    A car burns in Martinique on September 17 following a night of riots amid protests over the high cost of living. (AFP)

In Martinique, a French Caribbean island, officials have implemented a curfew from 9 pm to 5 am in parts of the capital to control violent protests sparked by rising living costs.

Reports indicate that at least 14 people, including 11 police officers, have been injured, some from gunfire, as alarming scenes of burning vehicles and destroyed buildings, with heavily armed riot police moving in, went viral on social media.

The office of the France-appointed prefect, Jean-Christophe Bouvier, announced that the curfew, lasting until September 23, aims to safeguard the public and businesses and restore order.

Protesters assert they have been compelled to demonstrate due to a lack of response from authorities and businesses regarding their petitions for reduced living costs. French national statistics reveal significant disparities in living expenses, with residents of Martinique facing food prices estimated to be 30% to 42% higher than those in mainland France.

A flashback

Last year, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin promised to address the issue of companies exploiting their market position to raise prices. However, residents continue to struggle to make ends meet.

Related News

Curfews imposed in French Caribbean amid living cost protests

Long-forbidden French anti-riot force deployed to Martinique

Rodrigue Petitot, leader of the Rally for the Protection of Afro-Caribbean Peoples and Resources, emphasized, "The priority of the protest is to ensure people are able to afford food."

Shazi Chalon, the business and cultural attaché for the St. Lucia consulate in Martinique, pointed out, “There are other grievances at the heart of the protest," noting that many see a disparity in how France manages Martinique, particularly regarding leadership roles: "In a majority-Black country, all of the people who hold the highest positions here … are from France."

Chalon, who has dual citizenship in St. Lucia and Martinique, expressed concern about the lasting effects of historical inequalities. “You have the local white population who, some of them whose grandparents and ancestors, way back to slavery days, owned plantations, who … today wield most of the economic power in Martinique, and own most of the agricultural land, own most of the business sector as well," he stated.

Why it matters

The issue of independence is gaining momentum in France's overseas territories, reflecting the historical legacy of colonialism.

These territories, constituting 18% of French land and home to 2.6 million people, are diverse in their political statuses and geographic locations, spread across the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans.

Several challenges plague these territories, including socioeconomic issues and grievances regarding infrastructure and security services provided by the French administration.

Consequently, there's a growing demand for increased autonomy and even independence.

Read next: France grapples with rising calls for independence from colonies

  • Martinique
  • Protests
  • french police
  • France
  • Colonialism
  • French Caribbean island

Most Read

Iranian missiles impact Israeli sites in Tel Aviv in 2nd wave

Iran's missiles impact 'strategic' Israeli site in Tel Aviv

  • Politics
  • 14 Jun 2025
Bin Salman: Islamic world backs Iran in call to Pezeshkian

MBS says Islamic world backs Iran in call with Pezeshkian

  • MENA
  • 15 Jun 2025
Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

  • MENA
  • 17 Jun 2025
Smoke rises after an Iranian ballistic missile directly struck Tel Aviv, Occupied Palestine, June 13, 2025 (AP)

Op. True Promise 3: Iran's ballistic missiles strike Tel Aviv

  • MENA
  • 13 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A Turkish Air Force pilot gestures from the cockpit of an F-16 military fighter jet before an Air Policing exercise at the Baza 86 military air base, outside Fetesti, Romania, Wednesday, March 6, 2024 (AP)
Politics

Israeli aircraft violate Turkish airspace, fighter jets scrambled

An Israeli occupation forces armored personnel carrier maneuvers in the Gaza Strip, southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, June 11, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Palestinian Resistance downs Israeli drone in Gaza amid extensive ops

An Israeli Hermes 450 UAV drone flies over Beirut, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Politics

Iran reports shooting down 28 types of hostile aircraft in 24 hours

Firefighters work to extinguish a blaze after a missile launched from Iran struck Tel Aviv, occupied Palestine, Monday, June 16, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran retaliatory strikes target greater Tel Aviv as injuries reported

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS