Caribbean violence abates as financial deal is offered

A relative calm returned to violence-torn Guadeloupe today after France announced a multi-million pound aid package aimed at easing the growing crisis.

Streets were mostly quiet following a week of arson attacks and gunfire by protestors angry over low wages and a high cost of living on the French territory and its neighbour Martinique.

President Nicolas Sarkozy made a televised appeal for an end to the violence and announced a €577m package to help development in France’s overseas regions.

A spokesman for the group organising the protest on the Martinique said “the state is again making about the same propositions that it already proposed to us.”

Guadeloupe protest leader Elie Domota said it was too early to say whether Mr Sarkozy’s announcements were anything more than “attention-getting” measures.