Still close to Paris

Voters in the overseas departments of Martinique and French Guiana have rejected a proposal for more autonomy from France.

In the referendum held on Sunday, 79.9 percent of the electorate in Martinique voted against the proposal. In Guiana, 69.8 percent of those who cast a ballot rejected it.

Martinique, a Caribbean island, and French Guiana, a region in the northeast of South America, are fully-fledged parts of both France and the European Union.

However, both regions suffer from economic problems including unemployment – despite economic support from Paris.

Strikes over living costs

A year ago, French overseas departments in the Caribbean – including Martinique – were hit by strikes over low wages and high prices. The referendum on Sunday was held to give people a chance to have a greater say in their own affairs, although not complete independence.

Around 300,000 people were eligible to vote in Martinique, with a turnout of 55 per cent. In Guiana, where there are about 70,000 registered voters, 48 percent participated.

Warnings from "No" camp

"No" campaigners had warned that France might try to relinquish its responsibilities to overseas departments, where social benefits are similar to those in France.

Martinique Senator Claude Lise, who was in favor of a "yes" vote, said it had been "a vote of panic."

"Martinique and Guiana have missed a major turn in their history and scuttled a proposed reform that could have helped them build their future," he said.

rc/AFP/Reuters/DPA
Editor: Chuck Penfold