Martinique

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Martinique

Martinique is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, having a total area of 1,128 km². It is an overseas département (département d'outre-mer, or DOM) of France. Like the other DOMs, Martinique is also one of the 26 régions of France (as a région d'outre-mer), and an integral part of the Republic. As part of France, Martinique is part of the European Union, the currency used is the euro Martinique is pictured on all euro banknotes, on the backside at the bottom of each note, right of the Greek ΕΥΡΩ (EURO) next to the denomination..

Martinique is also the name of a Holiday Inn Hotel in New York City

History

Main article: History of Martinique

Colonized by France in 1635, the Carib Expulsion occurred in 1660 when the island's indigenous peoples were deported but banned from returning by the French occupying forces. The island has subsequently remained a French possession except for three brief periods of foreign occupation.

From 1635 (arrival of Pierre Belain d'Esnambuc, a French aristocrat who took possession of the island for France) to 1946, Martinique lived as a French colony producing tropical trade goods such as cane sugar, coffee, rum and cocoa. African captives were brought from West Africa to form the slave population that is the origin of most of today's population.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Martinique

Subdivisions

Main article: Subdivisions of Martinique

Geography

Main article: Geography of Martinique

Economy

The economy is based on trade. Agriculture accounts for about 6% of GDP and the small industrial sector for 11%. Sugar production has declined, with most of the sugarcane now used for the production of rum. Banana exports are increasing, going mostly to France. The bulk of meat, vegetable, and grain requirements must be imported, contributing to a chronic trade deficit that requires large annual transfers of aid from France. Tourism has become more important than agricultural exports as a source of foreign exchange. The majority of the work force is employed in the service sector and in administration.

Main article: Economy of Martinique