Eight Protesters Arrested in Martinique Amid Rising Cost of Living Protests

Passengers are left stranded at Martinique’s international airport following a protest that forced its closure. Oct 11, 2024 Photo: @France24_en

October 11, 2024 Hour: 10:44 pm

These demonstrations began in September and have intensified due to rising commodity prices, which are significantly higher than those in mainland France.

As a result of a new wave of demonstrations on the Caribbean island of Martinique, eight parishioners were arrested while protesting against the high cost of living on this French-occupied island.

The individuals involved in this incident diverted three flights carrying more than 1,000 passengers to the neighboring island of Guadeloupe, an event that occurred at the Fort-de-France airfield.

The trigger for these events was the authorities’ announcement of a curfew. They claimed that this action was necessary due to demonstrators having vandalized public buildings and launched projectiles at the police.

These demonstrations began in September and have intensified due to rising commodity prices, which are significantly higher than those in mainland France.

According to “El Periódico,” the movement Agrupación para la Protección de los Pueblos y Recursos Afro-Caribeños initiated this series of protests to align the prices on Martinique with those in Paris, aiming to alleviate the unjust poverty experienced by its residents.

Currently, Martinique is one of the poorest departments in France, with approximately 27% of the population living below the poverty line.