“The night was rather calm” in Martinique, said Overseas Minister François-Noël Buffet on Saturday, two days after the establishment of a nighttime curfew to stem the urban violence which punctuates the mobilization against life dear.
“The night (Friday to Saturday) was rather calm. I invite calm to return. There can be no serious development, no serious discussion, in a climate of violence that would set in“, declared François-Noël Buffet on franceinfo radio.
Since September, Martinique has been in the grip of a mobilization against the high cost of living initiated by a movement called the Rally for the Protection of Afro-Caribbean Peoples and Resources (RPPRAC), which degenerated into riots.
“We must both restore order and give Martinicans a perspective precisely on the cost of living. We cannot do one or the other, we must do both“, declared Friday the Minister of the Interior Bruno Retailleau during a trip to the administrative detention center (CRA) of Mesnil-Amelot (Seine-et-Marne).
The RPPRAC requires an alignment of the prices of food products in France, displayed 40% more expensive in Martinique. Several round tables bringing together state services, local authorities, economic players and the RPPRAC were organized to find an agreement on measures to lower prices.
A sixth meeting took place Friday evening, which ended overnight without conclusion. “There is significant progress. I hope that as soon as discussions resume, we will now completely reach the writing (of an agreement). The resumption (of discussions) will be clarified in the coming hours, probably at the very beginning of the week“, assured François-Noël Buffet.
“It is undeniable that the price gap is very significant and all the measures proposed in the discussions are likely to reduce it very substantially, between 15 and 20%.“, he said.
Asked about a possible trip to the West Indian island, the minister replied: “once they all agree, I will come willingly. Let us first sign this agreement“.
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