Several thousand people from the diaspora abroad, dressed in red, demonstrated on Sunday, November 3, against the high cost of living abroad, reported journalists from Agence France-Presse (AFP). In a festive atmosphere, despite the palpable anger, the protesters gathered in Place Denfert-Rochereau, at the request of Antillean and Kanak associations, to mobilize the Ministry of Overseas Territories.
“Criminal monopoly”, “Insatiable Békés”, “Respektém nous”we could read on the signs at the head. “No to the high cost of living!” »chanted the crowd, with Martinican, Guadeloupean and Kanak flags fluttering in the wind.
“We have the impression that the situation abroad does not concern the French in France. “This demonstration is there to make noise and make the situation known to other French people.”Louis-Philippe Mars, vice president of the Ultramarins Doubout (“standing” in Creole) association, organizer of the event, explained to AFP. “We ask for territorial continuity (…)we have to align prices »He continued, saying that he hoped “what will there be?”[it] a turning point with this meeting ».
“Here we pay double or even triple! »
In the procession, Corry Diomar, 31, a father of four who has family in the West Indies, is not offended: “Most people in mainland France are not aware that at home we pay twice as much to eat cereals. The children there do not have the privilege of eating it! » The cost of living “It has gotten worse in recent years”he insists. “Here we pay double or even triple for a shopping cart at Carrefour! »
The same situation in New Caledonia, observes Céleste, a 32-year-old social worker, member of a Kanak collective and who has relatives in the “Pebble”. “Everything is more expensive” there, he testifies. “People are struggling to feed themselves, care for themselves and educate themselves properly”. AND “In the city it is more complicated because you have to pay for everything, we do not have food crops”. “They are getting rich behind our backs”estimates Sandrine Rosette, 42, director of a company who has relatives in Martinique, especially with regard to large-scale distribution.
Also participating in the demonstration was a figure from the movement against the high cost of living in Martinique, who arrived in Paris the day before, Rodrigue Petitot, head of the demonstration for the protection of Afro-Caribbean peoples and resources (RPPRAC). For him, it was “It is important to show the diaspora that we see the fight they are fighting here to support our fight there”. “They told us that France is one and indivisible, that we have the right to move, so to eat it must be equal”estimated.
