A four week old general strike has escalated into riots on the French-controlled islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique. Today a union representative was shot dead as he drove up to a barricade in Guadeloupe's largest city Pointe-à-Pitre, though it is not known who shot him. The Caribbean island had been brought to a standstill for nearly a month by strikes and demonstrations over high prices for food and other necessities. Yesterday protesters ransacked shops and torched cars in several towns across the island. The violence has also spread to the nearby island of Martinique. France has deployed over one hundred riot police to both islands and last night police used tear gas to disperse protesters. The president of the local regional council admitted Guadeloupe was "on the verge of revolt."That island's mostly peaceful demonstrations were coordinated by an alliance of about 50 unions and associations. The collective goes by the name of "Liyannaj Kont Pwofitasyon" (LKP) which is local dialect for "Stand Up Against Exploitation." The LKP demanded aid and pay rises for workers struggling to survive on an island with a high cost of living. On 30 January they organised a protest of 60,000 people in Pointe-à-Pitre, which represents 15 percent of the island’s total population. LKP have shut down petrol stations, ports, supermarkets, banks and government offices and the strike has caused power blackouts and food and water shortages. The island’s main airport was also closed down yesterday after many employees failed to turn up for work.
With Martinique also now joining the strike action and riots, France sent its minister for overseas territories to the region yesterday for a second round of emergency talks. Yves Jégo left the Caribbean last week after promising €180m in aid to the poor. But France steadfastly refuses to meet the main demand for a monthly €200 increase in base salaries. Patrick Lozès, the head of France's umbrella group of black associations Cran, blamed racial discrimination for the government’s refusal to accede to Guadeloupe’s demands. "Is it normal,” he asked, “that, 160 years after the abolition of slavery, the descendants of colonists possess 90 per cent of Guadeloupe's riches, but represent only 1 per cent of the population?”
The racial theme is also important in Martinique where the mainly black demonstrators chanted "Martinique is ours, not theirs!" Whites dominate the economy of both islands despite representing only around one percent of the population. Both Guadeloupe and Martinique are French overseas regions in the euro zone. France acquired Guadeloupe in the 1630s and was developed for sugar plantations worked by African slaves who still form the vast majority of the population. The islands were disputed by Britain but awarded to France in petty recompense for the loss of Canada in 1763. Today Guadeloupe still depends on sugar and rum production as well as tourism. But both islands’ economy is topped up with support from France. Both Guadeloupe and Martinique were formally assimilated into the metropole in 1946 when they became two of the four departments d’outre mer (along with Guyane and Reunion) with elected departmental and regional councils as well as representation in the French parliament.
While none of the departments d’outre mer have their own currency, postage stamps or official flags, they are still considered second class French citizens in many respects. Unemployment is double that of the mainland and Guadeloupe is considered one of the poorest areas of the EU. France outlawed one major pro-independence group in Guadeloupe in the 1980s. But despite the implied racism of the colonial system, there is no great nationalistic passion in either island. Only a tiny percentage of people in either Guadeloupe or Martinique have ever voted for independence movements. No party in either department has been able to articulate how it would manage economic and social development without French assistance. Even today, the demonstrators on the islands want Paris to do more, not less.
3 comments:
Its really crazy whats happens in Guadeloupe !
There are so many mistakes over present and
past events, inaccurate statements and
inaccurate analysis in your article that it is
unclear what your intentions are. It will be
interesting to see whether you are going to
publish my reaction as it follows on your
website. I will not correct all your mistakes
but let's simply mention that there has been no
riot in Martinique so far (feb. 22),
that demonstrations are not simply over high
prices for food although it is the first line
in the list of points to be negociated
including several other points that lead to a
re-organization of the whole society in these
overseas departments; let's also mention that
the arrest of 80 people during which police
special forces showed a lot of violence and
brutality unfortunately accompanied with racist
words was what started violent reactions from a
minority of youngsters in Guadeloupe
who torched cars. People ransacking shops the
arrest of 80 people are not protesters.
Guadeloupe's demonstrations were not mostly but
were totally peaceful up to that point. It is
not a mere black against whites situation nor
only the poorest, nor only blacks that are seen
demonstrating in the streets.
Local expression is not a dialect but a
language
Neither the LKP nor the collectif du 5 fevrier
demanded aid, they want the government to stop
protecting and giving money to the monopoly of
land owners. They demand that the government
apply laws against monopoly as is done in other
French departements and as should have been
done years ago.
These islands being French departements, just
like any other French department,they have the
same currency, stamps, as Parisians. They do
have their own logal flags as well as the
French one although the government fought this
initiative like it did in Corsica and Britany.
conditions you are mentionning when Yves Jégo
left the Caribbean are inaccurate.
the negociations for a monthly €200 increase in
base salaries had not started yet in Guadeloupe
when you wrote your article
France did not acquired Guadeloupe
Today Guadeloupe does not only depend on sugar
and rum production as well as tourism.
But both islands’ economy is topped up with
support from France and Europe just like other
regions in France, Italy, or the rest of Europe
considering that taxes paid on these islands
are also sent back to France and Europe.
Unemployment in these departments oversea is
not double but at least three times that of the
mainland.
Not only political parties but also trade
unions in either department DID articulate how
they would manage economic and social
development within or not the French economy
but this has never been accepted, those
countries being forced to be the priviledge
customers of France's and Europe's market.
Demonstrators on the islands want Paris to let
them do more themselves.
Of course I'll publish your reaction, Anonymous, I have nothing to hide.
I accept there is no evidence for riots on Martinique and I thank for the clarification, though you yourself talk about arrests with accompanying violence.
My intention is simple; to draw attention to the inequities that exist on the islands.
Thank you for your comments, but I'd inclined to take them a lot more seriously if you put your name to them.
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