Martinique’s prefecture has decided to extend the curfew introduced on October 10, despite a “marked reduction” in violence and blockades in recent days

On Monday October 14, the authorities announced that the measure, now in force from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., would remain in place until Monday October 21, throughout the island. This decision follows recent urban unrest linked to protests against the high cost of living, particularly food prices, which are around 40% higher than in mainland France.

The prefecture’s press release specifies that only “exceptions to the travel ban” will be granted for imperative reasons of health or professional needs. At the same time, the ban on the purchase, sale and transport of fuel and explosives has also been extended. In addition, the sale and use of pyrotechnic fireworks remains prohibited.

Improved situation on the ground

While the Caribbean island of 350,000 inhabitants has been rocked by violence since early September, no “notable exactions” were reported over the weekend, according to the authorities. The prefecture said that the forces of law and order were continuing to remove roadblocks and clear roads, while fuel supplies were back to normal at service stations. The situation on the ground is gradually improving, marking a lull after several weeks of tension.

Progressive resumption of classes and postponement of negotiations

The Académie de Martinique has announced the gradual resumption of face-to-face classes in schools from this Tuesday, October 15, subject to a stable security context. However, the seventh negotiation meeting scheduled between the State, local players and retailers to find solutions to the cost-of-living crisis has been cancelled. According to Serge Letchimy, President of Martinique’s Executive Council, the absence of “concrete and viable proposals” from the parties concerned justifies the postponement.

The activist collective Rassemblement pour la protection des peuples et des ressources afro-caribéens (RPPRAC) continues to call for a commitment from distributors to limit price differentials on all food products, even though current discussions concern only 54 product families.