Voters in the French Caribbean territories of Martinique and Guyana overwhelmingly rejected the option of greater autonomy in a referendum at the weekend, authorities said.

A year after protests against high prices in the island of Guadeloupe spread to both Martinique and Guyana, the referendum offered the chance to vote for changes that would have given local lawmakers more scope to initiate legislation of their own, though it was not a vote for independence.
 

But nearly 70 percent of voters in Guyana, on the South American mainland, and 79.3 percent of voters on the island of Martinique voted to retain the status quo.
 

The two regions, both overseas "departments" that count as full parts of France and the European Union, suffer serious economic problems including high prices and unemployment but also get considerable financial support from Paris.
 

Source: Reuters