FRANCE: Thousands take to the streets in Paris in support of the French Carribean Islands

Record ID: 1540292

  • Title: FRANCE: Thousands take to the streets in Paris in support of the French Carribean Islands
  • Date: 22nd February 2009
  • Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (FEBRUARY 21, 2009) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATORS CHEERING WITH BANNERS DEMONSTRATOR CARRYING POSTER READING "SOLIDARITY WITH THE GENERAL STRIKE IN GUADELOUPE AND MARTINIQUE" VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATORS MARCHING POSTER IN IN CREOLE DIALECT DEMONSTRATORS HOLDING BANNER WITH GIANT BALLOON VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATORS MAN SINGING DEMONSTRATOR OF MARTINIQUE ORIGIN, DENISE, STANDING (SOUNDBITE) (French) DEMONSTRATOR OF MARTINIQUE ORIGIN, DENISE, SAYING: "It's hard, life is expensive because everything comes from France. Many are out of work and earn little money. There are lots of unemployed people." MILITANT OF THE GUADELOUPE MOVEMENT, KARINE BROGUY, GIVING OUT FLYERS (SOUNDBITE) (French) MEMBER OF THE GUADELOUPE MOVEMENT, KARINE BROGUY, SAYING: "We are here because we are asking for respect. It's not normal that for the past month the government hasn't tried to reach a solution through negotiations. We have to completely re-visit the economic model, we must also change the way people see the overseas territories, we have to see how to develop them. We need to find a way so that this region becomes important." BROGUY GIVING OUT FLYERS CHILDREN MARCHING WITH OTHER DEMONSTRATORS VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATORS MARCHING AND SINGING
  • Embargoed: 9th March 2009 11:11
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France
  • Country: France
  • Topics: International Relations,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA38S6TJKL75XA533S3H1YQFOHR
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Thousands demonstrate in Paris to show their support for people living in the French Caribbean, where there have been protests and strikes over the high cost of living.
    Thousands in Paris demonstrated in support of the French Caribbean islands on Saturday (February 21) where strikes and demonstrations have been taking place over high cost of living.
    Guadeloupe, a French overseas region that is a part of the European Union, has been brought to a standstill for the past month by a general strike over high prices for food which has erupted into violent protests.
    The strike has spread to neighbouring Martinique and protests have broken out on French Guyana and the Indian Ocean island of Reunion, the other regions.
    Responding to wage protests in Guadeloupe during which a union leader was killed and shops were burned and looted, France brought the activists back to the negotiating table by offering a range of measures to alleviate economic hardship on the island.
    Protesters have asked for a 200-euro monthly rise for poor workers to cope with the rising cost of living on a densely populated island that relies heavily on expensive imports.

    "It's hard, life is expensive because everything comes from France. Many are out of work and earn little money. There are lots of unemployed people," said Denise who lives in France but comes from Martinique.
    As the strike has continued, concerns have grown about a possible spillover of unrest to the mainland, where up to 2.5 million people took part in demonstrations last month to protest against the government's handling of the economy.
    The strike has also reopened old resentments over the domination of the island's economy by a minority of "beke" or white families, often descendants of slave-era colonists. The French government has been accused of turning a blind eye to the protests and strikes for the past month.

    "We are here because we are asking for respect. It's not normal that for the past month the government hasn't tried to reach a solution through negotiations. We have to completely re-visit the economic model, we must also change the way people see the overseas territories, we have to see how to develop them. We need to find a way so that this region becomes important," said Karine Broguy, a member of the Guadeloupe movement.
    French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Thursday (February 19) offered a package of measures worth 580 million euros (730 million USD) to help the overseas regions, including aid to poor families, relief from social security contributions, price controls and measures to bring fuel costs down.
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