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Martinique.
Curfew extended
Since October 10, the prefecture of Martinique has established a curfew that concerns the entire island. On Monday, the decision was made to restrict it to the “communes of Case-Pilote, Fort-de-France, Lamentin, Saint-Joseph and Schoelcher, from midnight to 5 a.m., until Monday, November 4 inclusive.” This measure is accompanied by restrictions on the sale and transport of gasoline and the use of pyrotechnic devices that affect the entire island, specifies the daily newspaper Le Monde, which relies on information from Agence France Presse. The prefecture justifies this decision by the "new roadblocks erected during the night of October 27 to 28, and because of the violence that continued to mar the Martinique territory during the week of October 21." In the article published on Tuesday, October 29, Le Monde specifies that after a calm weekend, the night from Sunday to Monday was marked by new scenes of violence, characterized by Molotov cocktails being thrown at police officers, according to the prefecture. It also reported "the seizure of several hundred rounds of ammunition during a vehicle check, following a refusal to comply."
Since September, Martinique has been affected by a movement against the high cost of living that has degenerated into urban riots and violence, mainly at night. Also read an article published on the Challenges magazine website and titled " Monopoly of békés families, imported products... in Martinique, an economic system at the end of its rope". But also to listen to, a program of France Culture under the following title: "In Martinique, should we put an end to large-scale distribution?" With guest Christophe Girardier, president of the consulting firm Bolonyocté and author of several reports on the food market in Overseas.
Guadeloupe.
The "black-out" billed to users
On Friday, October 25, Guadeloupe suffered a general power outage. A "blackout" that was accompanied by scenes of violence between people who had set up roadblocks, particularly in Pointe-à-Pitre, and the gendarmerie. Incidents that were also marked by looting orchestrated by a few groups of opportunists. One of them was arrested and sentenced on Monday to an 18-month prison sentence, 6 of which were suspended. However, as specified by the 1st, the 26-year-old man will not go to prison. Due to the overcrowding of the island's penitentiaries (Basse-Terre has a prison overcrowding rate of 245%), he will serve his sentence in freedom, under the constraints imposed by an electronic bracelet.
At the same time, the 1st devoted an article to the consequences of the "blackout", particularly for EDF users. "According to EDF Archipel Guadeloupe, the general outage began on Friday, October 25 at 8:30 a.m. and electricity was restored across the entire network on October 26 at 11:58 p.m., writes 1ère. However, during these 39 hours and 28 minutes, the company continued to bill its 230,000 customers for electricity that did not exist. "Lawyer Sandra Divialle-Gelas explains: " I went to the EDF Outre-mer application and I realized that, during the various load sheddings already, during the month of October and during the blackout, it was billed. The meter was running, while there was no electricity. "The first details the process as follows, based on a customer's bill: "On Friday, from the 8-hour slot, EDF bills him 7 cents per hour. The next day, Saturday October 26, the bill climbs this time to 25 cents per hour, while this customer was cut off again, between 7am and noon. In total, the blackout will soon be billed 2.50 euros. Postponed to 230,000 customers, that leaves 575,000 euros in EDF's coffers, for a period when no service will have been provided. "There is no doubt that EDF's "consumer" service will be bombarded with phone calls in the coming days.
Saba.
Opening of the " Rum and Lobster »
Starting this Friday, November 1st and running through the 10th, Saba is hosting the “Rum and Lobster” Festival. “A ten-day celebration of the island’s rich flavors and vibrant culture, tailored to passionate foodies, rum lovers and those seeking a unique getaway,” according to the island’s tourism board. The festival is designed to showcase two of Saba’s signature products: the spiny lobster and Saban Rock Living’s Unspoiled Queen Liqueur rums. With a packed schedule With a range of events and activities, visitors and locals alike will be able to indulge in the flavours while enjoying the island’s hospitality and scenery. It is a collaboration between various stakeholders in the tourism sector: restaurants, bars, hotels, a dive shop, transport providers and artisans. The festival will feature: a pre-opening street fair, special lobster dishes and rum cocktails at participating restaurants throughout the week, an arts and crafts fair and workshops, a rum tour, a sunrise walk and run at airport, lobster fishing and a sunset cruise. It should be noted that accommodation offers are available at the Juliana Hotel and the Arawak Hotel. The full program can be found on the tourism board website (www.sabatourism.com).
Montserrat.
New government sworn in
Last week (Thursday 24 October) elections were held in Montserrat. A vote that saw the emergence of a new governance with, at its head, Reuben T. Meade. The new Prime Minister was sworn in on Monday, October 28, less than nine months after coming out of retirement and leading his new United Alliance (UA) party to victory in the general election. "We no longer have supporters, it is not United Alliance against the others, it is Montserrat against the others and we will work together to ensure that this country develops to its full potential for us, our children and our grandchildren," Reuben T. Meade declared shortly after being sworn in sworn in before Governor Sarah Tucker. The premier is 70 years old. LoopNews recalls that he previously held the post between 2010 and 2014 and that he was also chief minister of this British territory between 1991 and 2000. "We promise to be a government of the people, your government," he declared. "You will never hear us say my government. This is your government. We promise to serve you honestly and with compassion." The AU won five of the nine seats in the Legislative Assembly, followed by the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) with three seats and the outgoing Movement for Change and Prosperity (CMAP) which won one seat. Two other seats, that of the attorney general and that of the secretary of finance, will make up the 11-member Legislative Assembly.
Virgin Islands (US).
Cruise tourism brought in $258 million
According to a study published by the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) and relayed by the Virgin Islands Consortium, cruise tourism contributed $258 million to the economy of the Virgin Islands during the 2023/2024 season. That is $73 million more than in 2017/2018. The increase in the economic contribution of the cruises was true across all Caribbean destinations, with the U.S. Virgin Islands recording the third-largest economic benefit from cruise tourism, behind Cozumel and the Bahamas. The number of Virgin Islanders directly employed in the cruise tourism industry also increased, reaching just over 5,000 by 2024, up from less than 3,450 in 2018. Despite these encouraging figures, the study by Business Research & Economic Advisors (BREA) noted “a worrying trend,” the VIC notes. Shore visits by passengers and crew have declined significantly: from -39% in 2018 to -30% in this year's study. Passenger disembarkation rates have fallen to 83% in 2024, from 85% in 2018. Yet, despite the decline in attendance rates, total direct spending per passenger has increased. The U.S. Virgin Islands recorded the second highest average expenditure ($166.22) behind Panama ($190.61).
Haiti.
Gangs unite to reign terror
The reinforcement provided by the Multinational Mission for Security Support (MMAS), led by Kenya and mandated by the United Nations with the support of the United States, has raised hopes of a more effective and intense fight against armed gangs in Port-au-Prince and other cities in the country. It seems that this is not the case, or almost. For the time being, the situation continues to worsen in Haiti. Faced with this threat, several gangs have adapted and organized themselves. Thus, a coalition was born under the name "Viv Ansanm" (living together, the height of it...). Since October 17, this alliance has been spreading terror in the Solino neighborhood, on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince. "The streets are deserted, the houses are burning, the walls are riddled with bullets," reports Le Nouvelliste, which describes "an apocalyptic setting." And to better defy the authorities, the bandits film themselves and expose their crimes. According to the annual report of the experts mandated by the UN Security Council, Haiti is experiencing "record levels of gang violence" with, between January and June 2024, more than 3,600 homicides and more than 1,100 kidnappings recorded. In recent weeks, the gangs have also launched "an active recruitment campaign" to reach an estimated 5,500 people, targeting in particular children who, according to UNICEF, now represent up to 50% of the members of these criminal gangs.
Saint-Martin.
The old Sandy Ground cinema destroyed
The demolition of the old Sandy Ground MJC cinema resumed on October 15 and will be completed on November 8, the local authority said in a press release. The destruction is taking place in response to the concerns of local residents and parents of students at the nearby Aline Hanson and Jérôme Beaupère schools. “The presence of asbestos having been detected in non-friable form in the piping making up the reinforced concrete support posts of the building,” emphasizes the Community, which specifies: “The demolition work is being carried out with caution so as not to rip open the posts. Consequently, the site will generate less dust than a conventional demolition. The reinforced concrete posts in which the pipes have been detected will be directly evacuated to the Cul-de-Sac landfill where they will be cut up, then a regulatory storage center outside Saint-Martin. The asbestos fiber will remain contained and will be treated off site. »
