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Martinique
General Information
Area: 1100 sq km (424.7 sq miles).
Population: 381,427 (1999).
Population Density: 346.8 per sq km.
Capital: Fort-de-France. Population: 94,049 (1999).
GEOGRAPHY: The French Overseas Department of Martinique, a volcanic and picturesque island, is the northernmost of the Windward Caribbean group. The island is noticeably more rocky than those of the Leeward group, with beaches (of fine black or white or peppered sand) surrounded by sugar, palm, banana and pineapple plantations. Christopher Columbus called it ‘the most beautiful country in the world’ and before he named it in honour of St Martin, it was called Madinina (‘island of flowers’) by the native population.
Government: Martinique is an Overseas Department of France and as such is an integral part of the French Republic. Head of State: President Jacques Chirac since 1995, represented locally by Prefect Dominique Bellion since 1998. Head of Government: Claude Lise, President of the General Council since 1992.
Language: The official language is French; a Creole patois is widely used.
Religion: The majority of the population is Roman Catholic.
Time: GMT - 4.
Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz.
Communications:
Telephone
IDD is available. Country code: 596. Outgoing international code: 19. There are both payphones and card phones on the island. Télécartes (phonecards) are sold at post offices, newsagents and kiosks. There are only card phones at the airport.
Mobile telephone
GSM 1800/900 networks in use. Roaming agreements in operation. Network providers include Améris (website: www.francetelecom.com), Orange Caraibe (website: www.orangecaraibe.com) and Bouygues Telecom Caraibe (website: www.bouyguestelecomcaraibe.com). Coverage extends throughout the French Antilles and in French Guiana.
Fax
Available in most hotels.
Internet
Local ISPs include Wanadoo (website: www.wanadoo.fr) and Net Antilles (website: www.antilles-net.com).
Post
Letters take about a week to reach Europe. Post offices are open Mon-Fri 0700-1800, and Saturday mornings.
Press
Newspapers are in French and vary in their political bias. The main daillies are France Antilles, Antilla, Aujourd’hui Dimanche and Carib Hedo.
BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change.
BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice):
Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov):
Passport/Visa
| | Passport Required? | Visa Required? | Return Ticket Required? | | British | Yes | No | Yes | | Australian | Yes | No | Yes | | Canadian | Yes | No | Yes | | USA | Yes | No | Yes | | OtherEU | Yes | No | Yes | | Japanese | Yes | No | Yes |
PASSPORTS: Passport valid for at least three months beyond length of stay required by all.
VISAS: Required by all except the following:
(a) nationals of countries referred to in the chart above for a stay of up to three months;
(b) nationals of Andorra, Argentina, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brunei, Bulgaria, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong (SAR) (red passport holders only), Hungary, Iceland, Korea (Rep), Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Macau (SAR), Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Switzerland, Uruguay, Vatican City and Venezuela for stays of up to three months;
(c) transit passengers continuing their journey by the same or first connecting aircraft provided holding valid onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport.
Types of visa and cost: Short-stay (single-entry): (1-30 days) £15.72; (31-90 days) £18.87. Short-stay (double-entry): £22.01. Transit: £6.29.
Note: Payment of the visa fee is non-refundable and must be given when lodging an application regardless of whether a visa is granted.
Validity: Short-stay visas (up to 30 days) are valid for two months. Short stay visas (31-90 days and double-entry) are valid for a maximum of six months from date of issue. Transit visas are valid for single or multiple entries of maximum five days per entry, including the day of arrival.
Application to: French Consulate General (for personal visas), or consular section at Embassy (for diplomatic and service visas); see Contact Addresses section in France section. All applications must be made in person.
Application requirements: (a) Valid passport. (b) Two completed application forms. (c) Two passport-sized photos. (d) Fee to be paid in cash only. (e) Evidence of sufficient funds for stay. (f) Letter from employer, or proof of stay in country of residence. (g) Proof of address. (h) Medical insurance. (i) Return ticket. (j) Proof of accommodation during stay.
Working days required: One day to three weeks depending on nationality.
Temporary residence: If intending to work or stay for longer than three months, nationals should contact the Long Stay visa section of the Consulate General or Embassy (tel: (020) 7073 1248).
Money
Currency: Since 1 January 1999, the Euro, which was introduced in January 2002, has been the official currency for the French Overseas Departments (Départements d’outre-mer) French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Réunion. For further details, exchange rates and currency restrictions, see France section. US Dollars are also accepted in some places.
Currency exchange: All major currencies can be exchanged at banks and bureaux de change.
Credit & debit cards: Diners Club, American Express and Visa are accepted. MasterCard has limited acceptance. Cards can also be used in cash dispensers. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.
Travellers cheques: Accepted in most places, and may qualify for discounts on luxury items. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in Euros or US Dollars.
Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0730-1230 and 1430-1630.
Duty Free
The island of Martinique is an Overseas Department of France, and therefore duty-free allowances are the same as those for France. See France section.
Public Holidays
As for France (see France section) with the following dates also observed:
Mar 1-5 2003 Carnival. May 22 Slavery Abolition Day. Jul 21 Schoelcher Day. Feb 21-25 2004 Carnival. May 22 Slavery Abolition Day. Jul 21 Schoelcher Day.
Health
| | Special Precautions | Certificate Required | | Yellow Fever | No | 1 | | Cholera | No | No | | Typhoid and Polio | 2 | N/A | | Malaria | No | N/A |
Notes: 1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for all travellers coming from South America and Africa.
2: Immunisation against typhoid and poliomyelitis is often recommended.
Food & drink: Mains water is normally chlorinated, and whilst relatively safe may cause mild abdominal upsets. Bottled water is available and is advised for the first few weeks of the stay. Drinking water outside main cities and towns may be contaminated and sterilisation is advisable. Milk is pasteurised and dairy products are safe for consumption. Local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables are generally considered safe to eat.
Other risks: Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is present. Avoid swimming and paddling in fresh water. Swimming pools which are well chlorinated and maintained are safe. Typhoid, hepatitis B, diphtheria and tuberculosis immunisations are occasionally recommended.
Rabies is present, particularly in the mongoose. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. For more information, consult the Health appendix.
Health care: A reciprocal health agreement exists between France and the UK. However, the benefits which go with this agreement may not be fully available in Martinique. Check with your doctor before departure. Martinique has 18 hospitals and several specialists and clinics.
Travel - International
AIR: Martinique’s national airline is CTA Air Martinique. Other airlines serving Martinique include Air France, Airlib (website: www.air-liberté.fr), AOM, Nouvelles Frontières/Corsair (website: www.corsair.fr) and LIAT.
Approximate flight times: From Martinique to London is 12 hours (including an average stopover time of 1 hour in Paris); to Los Angeles is 9 hours; to New York is 6 hours and to Singapore is 25 hours.
International airports: Fort-de-France (FDF) (Lamentin) is 9km (6 miles) from the city. Airport facilities include restaurants, banks and bureaux de change, shops, tourist information and car hire.
Departure tax: None.
SEA: The main port is at Fort-de-France. The Pointe Simon cruise dock, nearer the city centre, accommodates larger cruise ships. Regular high-speed catamaran services run to Guadeloupe, St Lucia and Dominica. For more information, contact either Express des Iles (tel: 631 211; fax: 633 447) or Brudey Frères (tel: 700 850; fax: 705 375). Other ships sail from Miami and San Juan (Puerto Rico). Martinique is a port of call for the following international cruise lines: Holland America, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises and Royal Olympic Cruises.
Travel - Internal
AIR: Aeroplanes and helicopters may be chartered from Air Martinique.
SEA: Scheduled ferries ply between Fort-de-France and the main resorts of Trois Ilets and Sainte-Anne via Anse Mitan, Pointe du Bout, Anse à l’Ane and Anses d’Arlet. Children’s tickets are half price.
ROAD: Traffic drives on the right. The road system is well developed and surfaced. Bus: A limited although inexpensive service is provided within the communes. Most of Martinique’s public transport is served by communal taxis, denoted by the sign TC. TCs depart at frequent intervals from Pointe Simon (by the waterfront in Fort-de-France) to destinations all over the islands, making stops along the way. Fares are fixed and are reasonable. TCs run from early morning until 1800. Taxi: Government controlled, plentiful and reasonably cheap if shared. There is a surcharge at night. Main taxi stands are at major hotels, resorts or the airport. Car hire: The island has excellent car-hire facilities. Rental agencies include Budget, Avis, Hertz, Europcar and Carib-rent-a-car. 50cc mopeds do not need a licence. Bicycles can also be hired. Documentation: An International Driving Permit is recommended, but a national driving licence is sufficient, provided the driver has at least one year’s experience. The minimum driving age is 21.
Accommodation
HOTELS: There is a good selection of hotels on Martinique; ten per cent service is charged, sometimes with other government taxes added. The Relais de la Martinique is an association of small hotels, often called Relais Créoles, and guest-houses offering special reservation and tour facilities. Hotels range from deluxe, to medium- and low-priced. For further information, contact the tourist office, or Centrale de Réservation Martinique, BP 823, 97208 Fort-de-France Cédex (tel: 637 960; fax: 631 164; website: www.touristmartinique.com or www.touristofficemartinique.com); or Maison de la France (see Contact Addresses section).
SELF-CATERING: Gîtes (furnished apartments or bungalows) are widely available. For rental, contact the Relais des Gîtes de France – Martinique, BP 1122, Maison du Tourisme Vert, 9 boulevard du Général-de-Gaulle, 97248 Fort-de-France Cédex (tel: 737 474; fax: 635 592; e-mail: gites@touristofficemartinique.com; website: www.itea.fr/GDF/972).
Introduction
The terrain of Martinique varies from the high mountains of the north and centre to the rolling hills around Fort-de-France and the safe, sheltered harbours of the lower west coast. Martinique has a variety of small museums celebrating aspects of the island’s culture and history including the Empress Josephine’s connection with the island, the eruption of Montagne Pelée, the rum trade and dolls made from local materials.
FORT-DE-FRANCE: The island’s capital is a town of winding streets and colourful markets. In the centre of the town is the park of La Savanne. A statue in La Savanne commemorates Napoleon’s Empress Josephine, a native of Martinique, whose home, La Pagerie, is one of the main tourist attractions. The Musée Departmental has remains of the predominantly Arawak and Carib Indian prehistory of the island. There is an interesting Caribbean Arts Centre. Les Trois-Ilets (Josephine’s birthplace) is situated across the bay from Fort-de-France.
ST PIERRE: The 1430m (4700ft) volcanic mountain in the north, Montagne Pelée, last erupted in 1902 (in a unique explosion which literally ripped the summit off), destroying the city of St Pierre and its entire population of 30,000. (Only a prisoner in an underground cell, Auguste Ciparis, survived – he was subsequently pardoned and ended his days as a fairground exhibit in the USA.) The remains of St Pierre, once a beautiful and remarkable city known as the ‘pearl of the Caribbean’, are now a tourist attraction. The Musée Volcanologique contains exhibits, photographs and documents that tell the story of the disaster.
Today, St Pierre is Martinique’s second city, and, although run down, still shows some signs of its former glory: the old stone stairways and bridges still exist, and the ruins of the theatre are a prominent feature. Some of the historic buildings are being rebuilt and restored, notably the old customs house by the waterfront. The long grey-sand beach is very popular with local people. It is possible to visit the wrecks of the ships which were in the harbour on the day Montagne Pelée erupted – all but one of them went down in the disaster. Special submarines with glass windows take tourists to view the wrecks and the colourful fish which swim around them. It is also possible to dive to see them.
LE CARBET: Near Le Carbet, where Columbus landed on his fourth voyage in 1502, is the restored plantation of Leyritz, which is now visited by many tourists. The Centre d’Art Paul Gauguin may be found in Le Carbet itself. It contains exhibits relating to the painter’s stay in the area and the work he did while there.
THE SOUTH: In the south of the island is Pointe du Bout, Martinique’s major resort area. Ste Anne, Le Diamant and Les Anses d’Arlets have some of the island’s best bathing beaches. HMS Diamond Rock, 4km (2.5 miles) off Diamant, is a rock which was designated a man-of-war by the British during the Napoleonic wars and rates a 12-gun salute from passing British warships.
Sport & Activities
Swimming, water-skiing, small-boat sailing, snorkelling and spearfishing are available at many coastal resorts. There are tennis courts at many large hotels, and around 40 tennis clubs in Martinique. Visitors can obtain temporary membership and play at night as well as during the day. For further information, contact La Ligue Régionale de Tennis de la Martinique, Petit Manoir, 97232 Lamentin (tel: 510 800; fax: 516 560; e-mail: ligue.martinique@fft.fr; website: www.ligue.fft.fr). There is an 18-hole golf course at Trois-Ilets. Horseriding is a very enjoyable way to see Martinique’s lovely countryside. There is also horseracing at the Carère track at Lamentin. Hiking and mountain climbing are also catered for.
Social Profile
Food & Drink: The island’s cuisine is characterised by French and Caribbean influences and often features seafood, including lobster, red snapper, conch and sea urchin. Island specialities include stuffed crab, stewed conch, roast wild goat, jugged rabbit and broiled local dove. Colombo is a dish of goat, chicken, pork or lamb in a thick curry sauce. Creole cuisine is also widely available and is an original combination of French, Indian and African traditions seasoned with exotic spices. Meals are ended with tropical fruit.
There is a great supply of French wines, champagne, liqueurs and local rum. Local specialities are ’ti punch, a brew of rum, lime juice, bitters and syrup; shrub, a Christmas liqueur consisting of rum and orange peel; and planteur, made from rum and fruit juice. Guava, soursop, passionfruit, mandarin and sugar-cane juice are all common. There are no licensing restrictions.
Nightlife: There are plenty of restaurants, bars and discotheques, a few casinos, and some displays of local dancing and music. The Ballet Martiniquais is one of the world’s most prestigious traditional ballet companies. Limbo dancers and steel bands are often laid on at hotels in the evenings. The local music, zouk, lively, two-beat music similar to merengue but unique to the French West Indies, can be heard everywhere. Martinicans are very proud of it. The local guide, Choubouloute, contains information on local entertainment and is sold at newsagents.
Shopping: French imports are worthwhile purchases, especially wines, liqueurs and Lalique crystal. Local items include rum, straw goods, bamboo hats, voodoo dolls, baskets and objects of aromatic vetiver roots. A discount of 20 per cent is given if payment is made by travellers cheques in some tourist shops. Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1300 and 1500-1800, Sat 0900-1300.
Special Events: The following is a list of events taking place in Martinique during 2003:
Mar Martinique Food Show. Mar 2-5 Carnival. May May of Saint Pierre (centenary commemoration of the eruption of Mount Pelee, with music, dancing, shows etc). May 22 Commemoration of the abolition of slavery (various festivities held throughout the island). Jun Festival de Jazz a la Plantation (jazz music and exhibitions). Jul (amongst other months) Patron Saints Celebrations, various towns and villages. Jul 5-13 Tour de la Martinique (week-long bicycle race). Aug 3-10 Tour des Yoles Rondes (sailing event). Oct International Fishing Competition. Nov International Half Marathon (Fort-de-France). Dec Festival of the Pig (Vauclin); International Jazz Festival; Rum Festival (Sainte Marie).
Social Conventions: The atmosphere is generally relaxed and informal. Casual dress is acceptable everywhere, but formal attire is needed for dining out and nightclubs. Tipping: Ten per cent is acceptable.
Business Profile
Economy: In the agricultural sector, sugar cane and bananas are the main cash crops; a range of fruit is also grown for domestic consumption and export. Cut flowers have also become an important export earner. The processing of agricultural goods and refining of imported oil (which is also the main source of energy) are the island’s main industries. The most important part of the economy is tourism, both as a major employer and a vital source of foreign exchange – worth some US$400 million a year to the economy.
Martinique also enjoys substantial material benefits from being an integral part of the French nation, receiving financial support both from Paris and the EU. France accounts for more than 75 per cent of Martinique’s foreign trade, with the remainder of the import market captured by the major EU economies and the USA.
Business: Lightweight suits and safari suits are recommended. The best time to visit is January to March and June to September. A command of French is essential, as most of the island’s business is connected with France. Office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1200 and 1400-1800.
Commercial Information: The following organisation can offer advice: Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie de la Martinique, BP 478, 50 rue Ernest Desproge, 97242 Fort-de-France Cédex (tel: 552 800; fax: 606 668; e-mail: doi@martinique.cci.fr; website: www.martinique.cci.fr).
Conferences/Conventions: Facilities for business conferences are available at the Palais des Congrès Convention Centre, Schoelcher Commune, Madiana (tel: 721 515-6).
Climate
Warm weather throughout the year, with the main rainy season occurring in the autumn. Showers can occur at other times of the year, but they are usually brief. Cooler in the upland areas.
Required clothing: Lightweight, with waterproof wear advised for the rainy season.
History and Government
History: Prior to the discovery of Martinique by Columbus in 1493, the area was inhabited by Arawak and Carib Indians. There was no real European interest in the island until French colonies were established in 1635. Though the British made brief attempts to occupy the island during the 18th and 19th centuries, it has remained under French control ever since (along with Guadeloupe). Slavery was abolished in 1848 and, in the late 19th century, tens of thousands of immigrant workers arrived from India to replace the slave workforce on the plantations. In 1946, both islands of the French Antilles were given the status of Overseas Departments.
There was little political movement until 1974 when Martinique, along with Guadeloupe and French Guiana, was given regional status entailing some local political and economic autonomy. This was increased in 1982 and 1983 following a package of decentralisation policies introduced by French President Mitterand. Most affairs, with the major exceptions of defence and security, are now broadly under local control. The thrust of French government policy in the region is now to bolster links between its remaining possessions, Martinique and Guadeloupe, and other Francophone Caribbean nations.
Four parties dominate the political scene in Martinique: the Gaullist RPR-UDF (allied to the French party of the same name), the Parti Communiste Martiniquais and two island-based nationalist parties, the Parti Progressiste Martiniquais (PPM) and the Mouvement Indépendantiste Martiniquais (MIM, which now operates under the moniker Patriotes Martiniquais). Martinique is generally, but not always, somewhat to the left of the French mainstream. The PPM controls the Conseil Générale (elected into office in 2000), while the RPR is the majority party in the Conseil Regional (1998).
Government: The Prefect on Martinique represents France, and the island sends four representatives to the French National Assembly and two to the Senate. The 45-seat General Council and the 41-seat Regional Council administer the island’s local affairs; both are elected every six years.
Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.
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