Automatic weapons, Molotov cocktails… More violence in Martinique

The very high tensions are not easing in Martinique. New violence shook the island during the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, reported the prefecture of this island in the Antilles, under nighttime curfew.

“Once again this night, hooded and armed individuals tried to sow chaos in Martinique,” ​​deplores the prefecture of this island territory where weapons circulate massively in a press release.

Burning barricades

“The firefighters and the gendarmes were targeted three times by several dozen repeated shots, in bursts, from automatic weapons in Schoelcher”, near Fort-de-France, indicates the same source, reporting the robbery of a motorist and the burning of his vehicle. It also reports “seven barricades, often on fire”, erected in four municipalities in the territory, including Fort-de-France.

“Many delinquents threw Molotov cocktails and projectiles at the police and gendarmes,” details the prefecture, ensuring that blockades were still in progress in Fort-de-France, with “overturned” vehicles.

This new night of violence comes in a context of increased tensions in recent days on this island of around 350,000 inhabitants, in a context of mobilization against the high cost of living. Faced with “these tragic events” and “significant destruction”, the prefecture announced on Wednesday that companies with fewer than 400 employees could contact the departmental advisor for companies in difficulty (CDED), to be directed towards the most support system. adapted. Alongside this support, the prefect will bring together this Thursday the departmental committee for examining business financing problems (CODEFI) in order to “discuss” these difficulties.

The extended curfew

On Monday, the curfew, in force since October 10, was extended throughout the territory, from midnight to 5 a.m. until October 28. A measure also accompanied by restrictions on the sale and transport of gasoline and the use of pyrotechnic devices.

Despite a memorandum of understanding signed in particular by the prefect, the Territorial Collectivity of Martinique and several economic players to reduce the prices of thousands of food products by “20% on average”, the mobilization against the high cost of living continues. The Rally for the Protection of Afro-Caribbean Peoples and Resources (RPPRAC), at the origin of the movement, also refused to sign the agreement, considering it insufficient.