Fifteen years after the major strike of 2009 against the cost of living in the Antilles, food prices remain 40% higher in Martinique than in the rest of France. Toilet paper for 12 euros, a 500 g package of grated cheese for 6.19 euros, a package of lamb’s lettuce for 4.99 euros, here is a range of the incredible prices that appear every day on all receipts Martinicans.
Since 2009, nothing has changed. This September 1, 2024, after months of record price increases, monster demonstrations took place everywhere in Martinique. They created a powerful balance of power. Will price differences finally be abolished? Will the price freeze be decreed? This is the hope of Ethan, questioned by Insoumission: “ I voted for the New Popular Front because they want to block prices. Why does Macron not accept having lost? He has to clear it so that we finally have prices blocked here. »
The ongoing negotiations are being vigilantly scrutinized by the mobilized Martinicans. At the same time, the Government has deployed its death brigades, the CRS8, a “go-to-war unit” whose methods are denounced by the prefects themselves and which is already under judicial investigation. for violence. Our article.
Purchasing power crisis in Martinique: a long-standing problem
For almost a month, the discontent of Martinicans has been brewing in the face of the exorbitant increase in the prices of mass distribution products, 40% higher for food compared to prices in mainland France according to INSEE. For example, a pack of 6 bottles of Courmayer mineral water costs 2.47 euros in mainland France compared to 7.45 euros in Martinique, or around 201% more expensive.
Even better, Epi d’Or sandwich bread, sold at 1.46 euros in France, costs 684% more on the island, or 11.45 euros, more than 10 euros for a package of sandwich bread. For years, prices have been increasing more and more in the DROM-COM. The leaders justify this injustice with import taxes, but refuse to take this issue head on and satisfy the demands of the unions.
Descendants of settlers supported by the macronie
The Martinicans point the finger at those they call the “Békés”, they are the ones who own the majority of the large retail brands on the island and of course, they are the heirs of old settler families. These modern-day settlers hold the island’s economy in their hands and act freely, with complete impunity, with the support for years of Emmanuel Macron, friends of the big bosses, and his successive governments.
But the people of Martinique can no longer, and refuse to endure this social contempt and this unbearable cost of living. They no longer support, rightly, this colonial management of their lives in 2024, since a minority of rich white heirs own the island’s essential food brands and thus control the purchasing power of all the islanders.
To go further : On orders from the RN, Bruno Retailleau attacks Raphaël Arnault
A social movement that makes the authorities tremble
Food, although a basic necessity, has become a luxury product. The people of Martinique, no longer able to decently feed themselves, decided to demonstrate in order to express their anger and above all to make their voice heard, as a call for help, or rather for social justice and equality with the metropolis. .
In response to this social movement, local authorities chose repression. The prefect of Martinique has decided to ban all demonstrations, to impose a curfew since September 18 and to send the CRS to certain areas of the island. As a reminder, the last time that CRS were sent to Martinique was during the great popular riots of 1959 and three young Martinicans were killed.
Faced with the call for help from the Ultramarines, the local authorities prefer to try to stifle the social crisis, generated by Macronie and its complacency with the big bosses. Some let their anger be expressed more violently in order to finally be heard and to move the senior decision-makers comfortably installed in Paris. But the vast majority demonstrated calmly and peacefully, sometimes even festively, in order to defend their purchasing power and their Creole identity.
One of the leaders, Rodrigue Petitot, president of the “gathering for the protection of Afro-Caribbean peoples and resources (RPPRAC), nicknamed “the R”, communicates live on Tiktok. This new, quite surprising and unique form of communication makes it possible to reach a maximum number of people in real time. He called, among others, taxi drivers and truckers to block the roads and take an active part in the uprising, advocating non-violence.
Many members of La France Insoumise and the New Popular Front (LFI-NFP) spoke to support the people of Martinique, including MP Clémence Guetté, https://twitter.com/Clemence_Guette/status/1838193551982866585in order to demand that the State finally respects and hears the demands of the Ultramarines: “ A price freeze and an alignment of the latter with those of France. »
An anger that always rumbles
Following the curfew, the multiple presence of law enforcement and the ban on demonstrations, popular movements have diminished. The RPPRAC called for citizen disobedience so that residents continue to march in the streets and express themselves peacefully. But the problem of ultra-inflation is still relevant and the anger of residents is still present. The island’s prefect assures that he will continue the work of reflection in order to find a solution and ease tensions.
Following the social movement, the local authority of Martinique (CTM) announced that the tax on imported goods would be eliminated for thousands of essential products. The authorities are not doing any favors for overseas residents, since this suppression of essential products will be compensated by a tax on so-called “premium” products. Far from being a victory, it is a first step for the people of Martinique who expect more than a removal of taxes and aspire to real social justice, in complete fairness with mainland France.
By Camille Oulès
