“Things are just beginning” : several thousand protesters, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP), gathered on Saturday October 19 in Fort-de-France, determined to continue the movement against the high cost of living in Martinique despite the agreement signed on reducing food prices. .
The State announced on Wednesday evening that it had signed an agreement, in particular with distributors, to reduce “20% on average” Food prices in Martinique, scene since September of a mobilization marked by violence. However, this agreement was not signed by the Demonstration for the Protection of Afro-Caribbean Peoples and Resources (RPPRAC), the group that originated the movement, which had called for a demonstration on Saturday in the parking lot of a stadium.
The agreement signed by the authorities only refers “6,000 items, can we accept that? »threw the movement’s leader, Rodrigue Petitot – nicknamed the “R” – to the crowd on Saturday, greeted like a rock star with applause. ” No ! “The crowd responded in unison, with their fists raised and dressed in red, the emblematic color of the movement.
“Until then we accept in silence. Shall we continue the fight? »Rodrigue Petitot then asks, to which his followers respond ” Yeah “still with his fist raised. “This fight is our fight (…), if we say that no one can move, no one will be able to move. “We are at home here”then elaborates the “R”, qualifying the agreement as” failure “.
“The movement will spread”
“This is just beginning, the movement is there, it has taken root and will expand”says, on condition of anonymity, a resident wearing a T-shirt with the image of Martinican anti-colonial activist Frantz Fanon.
The same story for Supa Maya, stage name of a local singer who “We want our people, the children of today, to be able to experience a better future in Martinique”. Reason why “We have to do something, if we capitulate everything will get worse”continue.
After a first partial curfew established from September 18 to 26 to contain the unrest, the prefect decreed new bans on night traffic throughout the territory starting on October 10. These measures are in effect until Monday.
