MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

French Overseas Territories vote in January on degree of autonomy

President Nicholas Sarkozy

Two French overseas territories, Martinique and French Guyana will be voting in an autonomy referendum next January 17, although the close relation with France will not be at stake. The announcement was made this week following a meeting of both OT leaders with President Nicholas Sarkozy.

According to Paris daily Le Monde, voters “will approve or reject the change of regime as established in Article 74 of the French constitution” which contemplates an ample autonomy for OTs such is the case of Polynesia.

If a majority of voters reject autonomy, a new referendum will be called a week later to decide on a unified administration which would bring together the Regional Council and General Council.

The referendum initiatives respond to the rioting and prolonged strikes in both Martinique and Guyana over food prices at the beginning of the year. The violent conflict surfaced racial tensions between the black majority and the white minority that controls the local economy.

The island of Martinique in the Antilles has been a French territory since 1635 and currently has a 400.000 population while Guyana in under French rule since 1946. Both OT are officially incorporated to the mainland French territory.

Since a March 2003 constitutional review elected posts in both regions have the possibility of calling for a change of status and the French president then orders a referendum.

However whatever the voters decide, those OTs will remain as integral part of France, according to an official release from the French presidency Elysse Palace. “The question to be consulted with voters is the degree of autonomy and responsibilities, but in no case independence”.