Martinique Country & Tourist Information

Location
Caribbean, northernmost of the Windward group of islands.

Area
1100 sq km (424.7 sq miles).

Population
382,000.

Population Density
346.8 per sq km.

Capital
Fort-de-France.
Population: 93,000 (UN estimate 2001).

Government
Martinique is an Overseas Department of France and as such is an integral part of the French Republic.
Recent history: 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.

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.

Head of Government
Claude Lise, President of the General Council since 1992.

Head of State
President Jacques Chirac since 1995, represented locally by Prefect Yves Dassonville since 2004.

Telephone
Country code: 596. 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
Roaming agreements exist with international mobile phone companies. Coverage extends throughout the French Antilles and in French Guiana.

Internet
There are a few Internet cafes in Martinique, predominantly in the cities such as Fort de France and main tourist areas.

Media
TV and radio services are provided by the French public overseas broadcaster, RFO, and by private operators.

Post
Letters take about a week to reach Europe.

Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0700-1800 and Saturday mornings.

Press
• Newspapers are in French and vary in their political bias.
• The main dailies are Carib Hebdo and France Antilles.
• Other newspapers are imported into Martinique, such as the Washington Post.

Radio
• RFO Martinique is a public station, operated by Réseau France Outre-Mer.
• Radio Caraibes International and NRJ Antilles are private stations.

As for France (see France section), and below are listed additional Public Holidays for the January 2007-December 2008 period.

2007
Feb-Mar Carnival.
6 Apr Good Friday.
22 May Slavery Abolition Day.
21 Jul Schoelcher Day.

2008
Feb-Mar Carnival. 
21 Mar Good Friday.
22 May Slavery Abolition Day.
21 Jul Schoelcher Day.

Contact Information:

Office du Tourisme de la Martinique (Martinique Tourist Office in France)
2 rue des Moulins, 75001 Paris, France
Tel: (1) 4477 8600.
Website: www.martinique.org

Maison de la France (French Government Tourist Office in the UK)
178 Piccadilly, London W1Y 0AL, UK
Tel: (09068) 244 123 (information line; calls cost 60p per minute) or (020) 7399 3500.
Website: www.franceguide.com

Caribbean Tourism Organization in the UK
22 The Quadrant, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1BP, UK
Tel: (020) 8948 0057.
Website: www.doitcaribbean.com

Martinique Promotion Bureau in the USA
444 Madison Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10022, USA
Tel: (212) 838 7800.
Website: www.martinique.org

Note: Martinique is an Overseas Department of the Republic of France and does not maintain overseas missions. Addresses of French embassies, consulates and tourist offices may be found in the France section.


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