French Caribbean up in arm | France 2 | Envoyé Spécial

The French Caribbean is ablaze. 45 days of strike in Guadeloupe and nearly a month in Martinique. Why are the people angry? The high cost of living and the low wages in the French Overseas Departments. The revolt springs from the street. Economic activity on the two islands is at a standstill. Behind the demands lies another, much deeper anger?stemming from the very structure of the French Caribbean?is brewing: the ancient spectres of colonisation are rising once again. This is what we are attempting to show. The movement began in Guadeloupe on January 20 last. At its head is a charismatic union leader, Elie Domota, who brings along behind him a people that feels oppressed, victims of discrimination in their own land. We accompanied him. In Martinique, the people, who have been on the streets since February 5 2009, point to the guilty parties: the bekes, descendants of the slaver owners. They are said to control the economy of the island to this day and even responsible for the rise in prices. We investigated the beke community.