Demonstrators Take to the Streets in Martinique: A Battle Against High Living Costs!
Well, well, well! If it isn’t the folks of Martinique rising up once again! As of early morning on October 21, several dams (not the ones you fish in, mind you) have been put in place across Schoelcher, Fort-de-France, Lamentin, and beyond. And how do I know this? The police are out in droves—like it’s Black Friday but for barricades.
The Protests Make Waves
The announcement of these protests came during the RPPRAC rally on October 19, where locals rallied against the high cost of living. Because nothing says ‘let’s address the concerns of our citizens’ like shutting down roads and creating traffic jams! By 5 a.m. on Monday, the flaming barricades at Fond Lahaye in Schoelcher were the hottest thing in the neighborhood—better than a new brunch spot, I assure you!
Our man on the scene, journalist Denis Adenet-Louvet, witnessed the spectacle firsthand. Demonstrators eventually decided to let the police through. A euphoric surrender, if you will. But fear not, they promised to return post-cop departure—because what’s a protest without a little suspense?
The Heroic Vietnam Roundabout? More Like the Ghost Town Roundabout!
Now, here’s the funny bit. They had a shiny little meeting point set for the Heroic Vietnam roundabout at 6 a.m., and guess what? It looked like a scene from a horror movie! Empty, deserted, and only the police keeping an eye on it. Could this be the universe’s way of making sure no one was late to the protest?
More Blockages, More Drama!
Meanwhile, the buzz at the Fort-de-France port is still hot, with barricades stubbornly holding their ground. It’s like trying to move family from the dining table after dinner—good luck! Incidents at the entrance of the industrial zone in Lamentin added to the cocktail of chaos. My friends, if you enjoy traffic, you’ve got a buffet to choose from today!
Before 8 a.m., the riot police (that’s really what they’re called, I promise) cleared a lot of barriers, pushing the protesters back towards the Four à Chaux district. Sounds like a scene straight out of an action movie, doesn’t it?
The Aftermath of Disruption
Local residents even decided to join the fray with a mini blockade in the Lourdes district of Ducos. Because who doesn’t want to jump on the protest bandwagon? Meanwhile, multiple blockages at the Trois-Îlets roundabout and other spots made getting around a real-life game of Frogger.
The Transport System: A Casualty of Protest
The chaos had a ripple effect on the local transport system, freezing both lines of the Public Transport on Own Site. Buses are apparently stranded because of the mess. Talk about not getting your morning coffee fix—rage-inducing! Only a few neighborhood lines in Saint-Joseph and Lamentin can be relied on for the brave souls venturing out.
What’s Next for Martinique?
So, as the dust settles, or rather, the traffic cones are cleared, we ask: will these protests continue to gain momentum? Will the government finally heed the cry against the high cost of living?
Whatever happens next, you can bet your bottom dollar that if you’re driving in Martinique today, you might just want to pack a lunch and a good playlist—because you’re going to be stuck for a while!
In Schoelcher, Fort-de-France, Lamentin, but also in Rivière-Salée, several dams have been in place since early morning this Monday, October 21. The police are heavily mobilized at various points. We take stock.
Martinique once again mobilized against the high cost of living, the announcement was made this Saturday, October 19 during the RPPRAC rally.
This Monday morning (October 21), a burning dam had been preventing traffic since 5 a.m. in both directions on the RN2 at the level of Fond Lahaye in Schoelcher. A situation which caused numerous traffic jams. Around 6:30 a.m., the police intervened to free up access.
Dam lifted at Fond Lahaye in Schoelcher. • ©Denis Adenet-Louvet
According to Denis Adenet-Louvet, a journalist from Martinique who was the first on the scene, the demonstrators gave way to the police, promising to return after their departure.
A meeting point was set for 6 a.m. Heroic Vietnam roundabout. A message had circulated on social networks. At the scheduled time, the place was deserted.
The Vetnam Héroique roundabout is deserted despite a call for mobilization launched on social networks. • ©Denis Adenet-Louvet
According to the journalist from Martinique the 1st present, only the police were keeping watch.
HAS Fort-de-Francesince yesterday evening, barricades installed at the entrance to the port, at the cement factory not far from the Volga district, are still in place.
Bulky items placed at the entrance to the industrial zone from Lézarde to Lamentin disrupted entry into this area early this morning.
Encumbrances disturb the entrance to the ZI Lezarde in Lamentin. • ©Aude Sioul-Tidas
A few meters away, the police are mobilized. They “secure” the area. Shortly before 8 a.m., the CRS cleared the access and pushed the demonstrators back towards the Four à Chaux district. The situation is tense there.
Access to the Lézarde industrial zone has been freed by the police. • ©Xavier Chevalier
(Re)see our live broadcast at Lamentin:
A dam was installed in the Lourdes district of Ducos. This would be an initiative of local residents.
(Re)watch our live stream:
According to our information, an attempt at the Cocotte roundabout in Ducos was quickly stopped.
The Cocotte roundabout in Ducos is free to access. • ©Marc-François Calmo
A filter blockage is in place at the Trois-Îlets roundabout. Numerous traffic jams were observed on site.
(Re)watch live:
Several blockages were also reported in Choisy and Chapelle in Saint-Joseph or even in Séguinaux in Lorrain.
Debris and bulky items on the road from Chapelle to Saint-Joseph. • ©Xavier Chevalier
Lines A and B of Public Transport on Own Site are at a standstill this Monday, October 21. According to the transport authority, “the BRTs were not able to exit due to the impassability of their track in certain places (e.g. the Lézarde).
Same observation for certain lines of the center’s network: “many lines are not served due to several blockages. Only the Saint-Joseph and Lamentin neighborhood lines operate“.
