Martinique on Fire: A Comedy of Errors? Or Just Errors?
Well, folks, it’s another day in paradise—if paradise were a theme park of chaos. The public prosecutor in Martinique, Clarisse Taron, recently gave us a grim update about the island’s current state of affairs during her appearance on France Inter. And spoiler alert: it’s not exactly a trip to the beach.
“We are at three deaths,” she announces, as if reading the unfortunate results of last night’s lottery. Two bikers, possibly part of the demonstrators, tragically met their end in a traffic accident while joyriding on the ring road—at, shall we say, an unconventional angle. And let’s not forget the poor 20-year-old who was shot in the town of Robert. Talk about a rough week!
The details are a bit murky, but it seems our young friend had a slightly different night out than most. A nearby vandalized store was the scene of the crime, though the hypothesis of a shootout with security forces is being “favorably” disregarded. Great, we’re still looking out for the gunman—he’s probably off enjoying a nice cocktail on a beach somewhere, right?
And if you thought things couldn’t get worse, hold onto your sun hats! The prosecutor painted a picture of pure pandemonium: “The island is ransacked, there is looting, there is damage, with 500 cars burned.” That’s right, a literal car bonfire, and I thought only marshmallows and camp stories were meant to be set ablaze!
Clarisse, bless her, informs us that “probably more than 100 cars burned” just between Thursday and Friday. It’s like a car dealership sale, but instead of “buy one, get one free,” it’s “burn one, lose the lot!”
Now, there’s also the issue of the “delinquency of opportunity,” where convicts are reportedly taking “advantage of the unrest to burglarize.” Nothing says “opportunistic” quite like showing up for a riot and thinking, “Wow, that store is ripe for the picking!”
As if this week couldn’t feel any longer, the unrest is spreading faster than a viral TikTok dance. It apparently began in the Sainte-Thérèse district of Fort-de-France and is now “reaching the entire territory.” No one tell the tourists—this isn’t the kind of local culture they signed up for!
Strategically, Taron assures us that this isn’t all new. “We had experienced violence in 2020, 2021,” she reminds us as if this serves as some form of comforting historical context. Let’s just call it the “Martinique Reunion Tour: Grievance Edition!”
So, what’s next for this beautiful island caught in a storm of rising prices and public outcry? Perhaps a reality show? “Survivor: Martinique Edition.” Just imagine—challenges involving community service amidst the chaos. Now that might be worth tuning in for!
In all seriousness, let’s hope that cooler heads prevail and the residents of Martinique can soon trade their Molotov cocktails for some much-needed calm. After all, it’s hard to enjoy a sunset when the horizon’s on fire!
The public prosecutor in Martinique took stock of the violence that has taken place on the island in recent days on France Inter, including the death of two bikers during the night from Thursday to Friday.
Published on 10/11/2024 5:39 p.m. Updated on 10/11/2024 6:08 p.m.
Reading time: 2min A car burned on September 17, 2024 in Fort-de-France as the island faces the anger of residents, overwhelmed by soaring prices. (THOMAS THURAR / AFP)
“We are at three deaths”in the context of the violence in Martinique, said Friday October 11 at France Inter Clarisse Taron, the public prosecutor in Martinique. “Last night we had two bikers, perhaps part of the demonstrators, killed in a traffic accident while they were taking the ring road in the wrong direction. Not to mention another murder”she explains.
The prosecutor specifies that the victim of the homicide is a 20-year-old man shot and killed in the town of Robert on the night of Wednesday to Thursday, very close to a vandalized store. The hypothesis of a shooting by the security forces is not favored at this stage by the prosecution. The author is not identified.
“The island is ransacked, there is looting, there is damage, with 500 cars burned”during the night from Wednesday to Thursday and “probably more than 100 cars burned” in that from Thursday to Friday, continues Clarisse Taron. “We are once again in a very difficult period”she laments.
The prosecutor counts “probably close to 100 new procedures”specifying that he “there are procedures directly linked to the demonstrations”but also “delinquency of opportunity and windfall”committed by “convicts who take advantage of the unrest to burglarize”. “Last night alone, we received close to 50 police custody procedures”she explains.
She explains that the unrest started from the Sainte-Thérèse district in Fort de France, but that there is now a “reaching the entire territory”. Compared to the start of the movement against the high cost of living, “40 days ago”Clarisse Taron note “an aggravation” on the island. But she reminds “that we had experienced violence in 2020, 2021”.