The "Butterfly" with the broken wings

Articles from BBC News-Feb 12,16,17

Violent strikes on French island

Police on France's Caribbean island of Guadeloupe have arrested dozens of people as protests against the rising cost of living turned violent.

Officials said police responded after coming under a barrage of stones from the protesters in Pointe-a-Pitre. The protest's organisers said police used tear gas to disperse crowds and several people were injured.

On the neighbouring French island of Martinique, thousands of people held a rally, demanding higher wages.

The protests started almost a month ago, bringing life on the islands to a standstill. Thousands of tourists - an important source of revenue - have reportedly cancelled their holidays in Guadeloupe and Martinique.

The islands have a high cost of living and use the euro. Correspondents say many residents feel their salaries are not keeping up with rising prices.

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Four French overseas territories had the highest unemployment rates in the 27-nation EU in 2007, the EU's statistics agency Eurostat says.

The Indian Ocean island of Reunion topped the list, with 25.2%, followed by Guadeloupe, Martinique and French Guiana, all in the Caribbean region.

The two Spanish enclaves in Morocco - Ceuta and Melilla - came next, with rates of 20.3% and 18.2%, respectively.

Guadeloupe and Martinique are currently in the grip of a general strike.Several dozen protesters were detained on Guadeloupe on Monday as police dismantled barricades erected by striking workers.The protests over low wages and rising prices have closed shops and schools on the two islands. The strike started on Guadeloupe four weeks ago, while Martinique has seen protests for just over a week.

The islands have a high cost of living and use the euro. Correspondents say many residents feel their salaries are not keeping up with rising prices.

According to the Eurostat figures, a total of 14 EU regions had an unemployment rate of 14.2% or higher in 2007 - a rate at least double the average in the EU.

Apart from the French overseas territories, the highest rates were in five regions of Germany, one region in Spain, one region in Slovakia and one region in Belgium.

Unemployment rates for young people - in the 15-24 age range - were lowest in Gelderland (4.9%) and Utrecht (5%), both in the Netherlands, and highest in Guadeloupe (55.7%) and Reunion (50%).
In more than 70% of the EU regions for which data were available, the youth unemployment rate was at least double the total unemployment rate, Eurostat reports.

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Tourism hit

The strikers have blocked roads and supermarkets, which they blame for the rapidly rising prices of everyday goods. Supermarkets on Martinique agreed earlier this week to cut prices on 100 top products by 20%. Unions welcomed that move but said they would not call off the strike.

The action has dealt a severe blow to the islands' important tourist industry, with up to 10,000 tourists reported to have cancelled their holidays.Visitors, most of them from France, are drawn to Guadeloupe's resorts, beaches, waterfalls and forests and the territory is a port of call for cruise ships.

Poverty and unemployment are more widespread on the islands than the French mainland.
Patrick Lozes, head of the French black rights group Cran, complained that "160 years after the abolition of slavery, the descendants of colonial settlers own 90% of Guadeloupe's and Martinique's wealth, but represent only 1% of the population".

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FACTS for Guadeloupe

* Status: Overseas department of France (France is divided in 100 departments - similar to US counties - forming 26 regions). Guadeloupe is one of the four overseas departments (the others are Reunion, Martinique and French Guiana). All regions have identical legal status as integral parts of France.
* Population: 445,000 (via UN, 2006)
* Capital: Basse-Terre
* Area: 1,705 sq km (658 sq miles)
* Major languages: French (official), Creole dialect
* Major religion: Christianity
* Life expectancy: 75 years (men); 82 years (women) (UN)
* Monetary unit: euro
* Main exports: Bananas, sugar, rum, vanilla
* GNI per capita: US$14,088 (UN, 2003)

Head of state: (French) President Nicolas Sarkozy

Guadeloupe is administered as a part of the French mainland.

Paris is represented by a prefect, appointed by the French president. Regional and general councils, elected by popular votes, oversee legislative and day-to-day affairs. Guadeloupe sends representatives to the National Assembly and to the Senate in Paris.