The Martinique-Aimé-Césaire international airport in Fort-de-France was closed late this Thursday, October 10, announced the island’s prefecture, after new violence on the sidelines of the protest movement against the high cost of living.
Looting, fires, invaded airport… The situation remains tense in Martinique. Despite the start of a curfew this Thursday, October 10, violence on the sidelines of the protest movement against the high cost of living, which has already left 26 police officers and gendarmes injured, continues on the island.
The Martinique-Aimé-Césaire international airport, in the commune of Lamentin, was invaded before being closed, the prefecture announced. They intended to denounce the arrival of reinforcements from the police.
“Rumors circulated on social networks this afternoon, according to which 300 or 350 CRS were to arrive in Martinique by plane. This completely false information is at the origin of groupings and the invasion of the airport runway , having led three planes, or more than 1,000 passengers, to be diverted to Guadeloupe, 500 passengers who were supposed to leave by these planes are stuck at Fort-de-France airport,” explains the prefecture of Martinique.
The prefecture of Guadeloupe speaks of three flights with “1,117 passengers on board”.
A man shot dead in Robert
A man was also shot and killed in circumstances that are still unclear: he was found injured by the gendarmes who were intervening against the looting of a shopping center in Robert (east) and died in hospital, according to the prefecture of Martinique.
An investigation was opened, added the prefecture, ruling out the involvement of the police who “did not use their weapons during the riots”. From a source close to the case, the man was the victim of a settling of scores between rioters.
Since September, the Caribbean island has been marked by a movement against the high cost of living, a recurring theme in overseas territories, which has degenerated into urban violence. The situation had calmed down in recent weeks but incidents broke out on Monday between the CRS and activists who were carrying out a blocking action in Lamentin.
Gatherings and demonstrations prohibited
Since then, urban violence has been recorded again every night. No fewer than 400 vehicles were burned, according to the same source, with a huge parking lot housing new cars imported into Martinique going up in smoke.
Consequence: the prefect of the island, Jean-Christophe Bouvier, signed two decrees on Thursday concerning “the entire territory of Martinique”. The first establishes a curfew from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., the second prohibits gatherings and demonstrations from 6 p.m. Thursday. Both orders run until Monday.
Schools will also remain closed for the second consecutive day on Friday, indicated the Martinique rectorate. The Martinique University Hospital announced on Thursday the launch of a blank plan during which “deprogramming of surgical procedures or consultations are organized”.
“However, particular attention is paid to urgent or cancer-related interventions,” added the University Hospital in its press release, specifying that “canceled appointments will be rescheduled as soon as possible.” . In addition, pharmacies on the island declared on the same day “no longer able to provide emergency service”.
A sixth round table against the high cost of living is planned for Friday at 3 p.m. with the various stakeholders. The previous five, bringing together the RPPRAC (Rally for the Protection of Afro-Caribbean Peoples and Resources), a movement at the forefront of mobilization, and economic actors, elected officials, State services and the Territorial Collectivity of Martinique (CTM) did not produce results deemed satisfactory by the protesters.
