The local government decided to extend the measure until October 21, which applies daily from dawn to dusk, and envisages a ban on the inhabitants of the island to circulate on the streets, gather, hold rallies or remain in public places.

During this stage, the purchase, sale and transport of fuel, fireworks and pyrotechnic devices was also banned, the police will patrol the streets more frequently and punish the violation with severe penalties.

But since last week the population defied the state of emergency and went ahead with demonstrations over the economic crisis and the price gap between France and the island.

In fact, the unions from various sectors reiterated that they will continue with the protests and an intensification of them is not ruled out because the authorities suspended at the last minute the last round of negotiations with consumer rights defenders, which were scheduled for this Tuesday.

As it was known, the dialogues reached consensus on 24 of the 26 points under discussion and on the two outstanding points, the most important of which is to determine the number of products that would be affected by price cuts in Martinique.

mh/mem/ymr