The presence in Martinique of the Minister of Overseas Territories, François-Noël Buffet, does not really have the desired effect. The situation could even become a little more tense with the arrest in Fort-de-France of the figure of the movement against the high cost of living in Martinique, Rodrigue Petitot, at the head of the Rally for the Protection of African Peoples and Resources. Caribbean (RPPRAC).
The leader of the RPPRAC, known as “the R”, was in fact arrested, indicates the prosecution and placed in police custody at the central police station of the capital of the island, following a complaint for trespassing and acts of intimidation against persons exercising public functions. The events occurred Monday evening and a video has since circulated on social networks.
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Rodrigue Petitot entered the prefectural residence in the upscale Didier district of Fort-de-France with three other people. An intrusion whose aim was to obtain an interview with the Minister of Overseas Territories. It was the prefect of Martinique, Jean Christophe Bouvier, who physically opposed the entry of the president of the RPPRAC into the residence. The attitude of the collective's leaders was “unacceptable, unimaginable, intolerable”, said the prefect.
According to a press release from the Martinique prefecture reported by 1erefrancetvinfo, members of the RPPRAC “wanted to enter the residence building, demanding to be immediately received by the minister. The prefect intervened to deny them access. He insisted that it was unacceptable to break into a private home by force, without authorization. […] stressed that no request had reached him and asked the intruders to leave the premises immediately. »
Fire to the powder?
In the meantime, this arrest is mobilizing in the streets of Fort de France and could compromise a possible request for a meeting between the minister and the RPPRAC. “We are waiting for the R to be released. I fear this evening a new night of disturbances which will be the responsibility of the prefect and the minister,” reacted Tuesday evening the secretary of the RPPRAC, Aude Goussard, at the microphone of local radio RCI. After the announcement of Rodrigue Petitot's arrest, around a hundred people gathered in front of the Fort-de-France police station to demand his release. According to the Martinique Transport Authority, a flaming roadblock was even erected on Avenue Maurice-Bishop in the Sainte-Thérèse district where Rodrigue Petitot claims to reside. The authority has suspended public transport in the center of the island.
As a reminder, since September, Martinique has been affected by a movement against the high cost of living which degenerated with urban riots and violence, mainly at night, during which, according to figures from the prefecture, more than 230 vehicles were deliberately burned and Dozens of commercial premises were set on fire, vandalized or looted.
