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Martinique Mayor Calls For Dialogue Amid Escalating Violence

New York (News Americas) The Mayor of Fort-de-France, Didier Laguerre, has called for urgent dialogue and consultation in response to escalating urban violence affecting parts of the Martinique city.

In a press release and at a press conference, Mayor Laguerre expressed his deep concern over the unrest, emphasizing that action must be taken “in the best interests of the Martinicans.”

The neighborhoods of Sainte-Thérèse and Dillon have been particularly affected, with significant violence and damage reported. Fort-de-France and nearby Le Lamentin experienced clashes, thefts, and fires overnight with hooded youths confronting law enforcement.

In Sainte-Thérèse, fires erupted near the local church, and in Dillon, a McDonald’s restaurant was extensively damaged by flames, prompting firefighter intervention around 1:49 a.m.

The unrest appears to stem from an incident at Carrefour Dillon, where peaceful protests against the rising cost of living turned violent after a reported crackdown by law enforcement. The RPPRAC, an organization representing protesters, condemned what they described as “police repression” and called for calm while urging the prefect to halt the “spiral of violence.”

“Children and elderly people who came to peacefully protest were brutally repressed,” the RPPRAC stated in an open letter, which also reiterated their demands for public negotiations and price alignments with mainland France.

Gladys Rogers, treasurer of the RPPRAC, acknowledged that while their calls for calm have been effective, the growing anger among the population is becoming harder to control.

The violence has led to widespread looting in Fort-de-France and Le Lamentin. Stores, including Cash Converters in downtown Fort-de-France and several businesses in the Jambette area, were broken into and robbed.

The Fort-de-France municipal police headquarters were also targeted, and numerous roadblocks were erected, disrupting traffic in key areas like the Jeanne d’Arc roundabout.

Officials in the French Caribbean island of Martinique say on September 17 at least six police officers were injured by gunfire during violent protests.

Despite the growing unrest, Mayor Laguerre continues to appeal for calm and stresses the need for immediate dialogue to resolve the tensions. “We must act swiftly to protect the safety and well-being of all Martinicans,” he said.

Identificador Sitio web Ecos del Sur
News Americas Now

News Americas Now

News Americas Now is the only black, woman and minority-owned, daily syndicated newswire in the US, dedicated to covering positive news on the Black Immigrant Community from the Caribbean and Latin America. Also. the latest news on the Caribbean and Latin America. Our content is syndicated across 21 websites.
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