by Admin
Oct 12, 2024
French authorities have banned protests in their Caribbean-controlled territory of Martinique and imposed a curfew amid a violent breakout protest against the government over the high cost of living in the country.
The protest erupted in Martinique, which has a population of 350,000 in September with the demand for the reduction of prices on local foodstuffs in comparison to the prices of France’s mainland which is 40% lower than the one in the Caribbean-controlled territory.
The protest which became violent attracted the attention of the French authorities to send in riot police to quell the situation and impose strict rules against public gatherings and the purchase of anything that could be used to create violence in the public.
The controlled protest took another twist on Monday earlier this week when the riot police tried to dismantle a roadblock built by the protesters and it became a violent confrontation between the protesters and the riot police.
The past few days have seen various governmental buildings burned down by the protesters with business outlets looted and vehicles burned down in various parts of the Island.
Prodesq gathered that an officer was injured from a gunshot while a civilian man died from another gunshot wound on Thursday in the hospital.
Prodesq also gathered that the protest was organized by the Assembly for the Protection of Afro-Caribbean Peoples and Resources (RPPRAC), in response to the long calls for the reversal of the high cost of food prices on the French Caribbean-controlled territory of Martinique.
François-Noël Buffet, French Overseas Minister has ensured calm and control in the Caribbean territory and has dismissed the claim that the dead man was killed by the local police.
Earlier today hundreds of passengers have been left stranded after the international airport in the French Caribbean island of Martinique closed following a breach by protesters.
While flights have been redirected to nearby Guadeloupe, also a French territory.