Saint Lucians In Martinique Safe Amid The Island’s Unrest

Protests in Martinique have escalated, driven by growing dissatisfaction with the high cost of living in the French territory. However, Saint Lucia’s Consulate has indicated that Saint Lucians are safe. Regarding the status of Saint Lucians living in the French territory, Shazi Chalon, Cultural Attaché at the consulate general office in Martinique, told St. Lucia Times on Thursday, “As far as I know, no Saint Lucians have been hurt. I believe those who have been injured are directly involved in the protests, and there are no reports of anyone not participating in the protests being in danger.” Chalon mentioned that the consulate office has been closed since Tuesday, October 8, due to blocked roads leading to Fort de France. Nevertheless, the consulate’s phone lines remain operational. Late Wednesday night, an individual was reportedly killed during a looting incident as chaos erupted on the island, according to a source who spoke to the St. Lucia Times. “He was attempting to loot a store for liquor when he got into a confrontation with another person also stealing liquor, and then he was shot,” the source, a resident of Martinique, claimed. “The police arrived, found him bleeding, and tried to revive him, but...