A historic agreement has just been signed in Martinique to reduce food prices by 20% on average. Discover the details of this major advance for the purchasing power of Martinicans, the result of a mobilization lasting several weeks. But the collective behind the movement slammed the door on negotiations…
After several weeks of mobilization against the high cost of living, a historic agreement has just been signed in Martinique to reduce the prices of food products by 20% on average. This major advance for the purchasing power of Martinicans is the result of intense negotiations between the State, local authorities, distributors and economic players on the island.
An unprecedented mobilization
Since September 1, Martinique has been in the grip of a vast social movement initiated by the RPPRAC collective (Rally for the Protection of Afro-Caribbean Peoples and Resources) to denounce the high cost of living on the island, where the prices of Food prices are 40% higher than in France.
Despite some excesses, this unprecedented mobilization has pushed the authorities and economic players to sit around the table to find concrete and rapid solutions to this recurring problem.
An agreement in 7 rounds of negotiations
No less than 7 marathon negotiation sessions were necessary to achieve this agreement on lowering food prices. Around the table: the prefecture, the Martinique Territorial Collectivity, parliamentarians, major retail brands, wholesalers, the Grand Maritime Port and even representatives of the local economic fabric.
There is an urgent need to sign for the Martinique economy.
Jean-Christophe Bouvier, prefect of Martinique
54 product families concerned
The agreement provides for a 20% drop in prices on average currently practiced by large retailers on a list of 54 families of food products among the most consumed in Martinique:
- Fresh produce
- Grocery products
- Drinks
- Frozen products
This reduction will be made possible thanks to a collective effort across the entire supply chain:
- Reduction in purchasing and delivery costs on the 6,000 imported food products
- Distributors’ commitment to significantly reduce their margins
The RPPRAC collective slams the door
Despite this progress, the RPPRAC collective, at the origin of the movement, decided not to sign the agreement, considering it insufficient. He calls for continuing the mobilization against the high cost of living.
A decision which worries the authorities, who are calling for a de-escalation of violence, while the island has been under curfew for several days.
There is an urgent need to sign for the Martinique economy and to regain calm.
Jean-Christophe Bouvier, prefect of Martinique
A first step
While this agreement is hailed by many as a historic step forward, everyone agrees that it is only a first step in the fight against the high cost of living in Martinique.
Many other subjects remain on the table, such as the price of fuel, rent or even the unemployment rate, which is particularly high among young people. So many challenges to overcome to sustainably get the island out of the rut and restore purchasing power to a population hit hard by the crisis.
