France's Overseas Territories Decide Their Future

Overseas territories of France, Martinique and Guadeloupe, to decide their future By Christine Modock & Nathalie Gee Sep 23, 2009 The first half of the year proved rather stormy in the Caribbean Sea, starting with weeks of unprecedented general strikes on the islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe. In June, French President Nicolas Sarkozy made a two-day trip to the French West Indies, aimed at easing social tensions by meeting with representatives from both islands. The strikes and social unrest are happening in the context of readjustments that have already begun on several of France’s overseas territories. In Martinique, the people will be allowed to decide whether they will continue as part and parcel of the French Republic or become a territory with autonomy, as provided for in Art.74 of the French constitution. In French... [read full story]                    

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