Summary
High food prices have stirred protests in Martinique, with a solution finally on the horizon
Organisers of cost-of-living protests in Martinique rejected a deal that aimed to reduce food prices on 6,000 imported products today.
The Rally for the Protection of Afro-Caribbean Peoples and Resources, rejected the deal that would have covered 54 types of food products. According to the leader, Rodrigue Petitot, the deal should include 40,000 products.
In Martinique, food prices are 40 percent higher than their former coloniser France.
Martinique imports an estimated 80 percent of food from France. Butter can cost €8.50, (£7.08). And meat can cost some households seventeen percent of their income.
Besides the importation itself, a nine percent import tax from the 17th century known as octroi de mer (aka dock dues) raises prices further.
Residents of Martinique have been protesting the island’s high cost-of-living since September.
One protestor was killed by police, with several shops and businesses have been set on fire and looted.
Police have set up roadblocks and a curfew in Martinique’s capital, Fort-de-France. The curfew set to end on Monday will now continue until October 21. At the moment, civilians can only leave their homes for work or to go to the hospital.
Featured Image Credit: Vetalina – Pexels
Third year journalism student. 2025/2026 Lifestyle and Comment Editor at Brig. Published in The Yucatán Times, Mi Campeche and The Mourning Paper. Host of From the 40s with Air3Radio.
