A funeral service was held on Sunday in Guadeloupe for trade union representative Jacques Bino, who was shot dead on Tuesday in his car. French Prime Minister François Fillon said on Thursday that the crime had been committed by “delinquents”.

A photo of a burnt-out car, taken on Wednesday en route from the airport to Pointe-a-Pitre...there were dozens strewn across the road, mixed with burnt-out fridges and ovens. FRANCE 24 The site of a tyre centre in Pointe-a-Pitre burnt to the ground on Tuesday night. Thousands of euros' worth gone up in flames and possibly 30 jobs as well. This centre is owned by Bernard Hayot, a descendant of the French colonists and the biggest businessman on the island. FRANCE 24 Main road from Pointe-a-Pitre to Gosier blocked by trees put in place by militants of the LKP. FRANCE 24 On Thursday thousands of people took to the streets to show that after over a month they remain as motivated as ever to achieve their goals.FRANCE 24 A man holding a photo of Jacques Bino, the unionist killed Tuesday night. This photo was taken on Wednesday when a march was held in tribute to the man. FRANCE 24 A march in tirbute to the unionist killed Tuesday nightFRANCE 24 A shop with its shutters ripped open, taken on Wednesday. It's a jewelry store that was looted Tuesday night. FRANCE 24 Elie Domota, the leader of the LKP, the organisation of unionists leading the strike. He wears the t-shirt of the strikers in neighbouring Martinique. Photo taken on Thursday, when some 10,000- 15,000 people took to the streets once again. FRANCE 24 A march in tribute to the unionist killed Tuesday night. FRANCE 24's Willy Bracciano in the picture. FRANCE 24's Eve Irvine and Willy Bracciano report from Guadeloupe

French ex-presidential candidate and socialist Ségolène Royal arrived on the island on Saturday in order to be present at the memorial service. She called on the government, which she said had “abandoned” the French overseas department in the Caribbean, to find a solution to the crisis. Representatives of the ruling conservative party UMP accused her of political opportunism.

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On Thursday, thousands of demonstrators turned out in Paris, and in several other cities in mainland France, in a strong show of support for Guadeloupe’s current protests against the high cost of living, even as a one-month blockade has brought daily life on the Caribbean island to a total standstill.

In Paris, about 10,000 people demonstrated according to police, and 30,000 according to organizers, most of whom were native to the Caribbean islands. A number of well-known French personalities turned out, such as the socialist politician Harlem Désir and Guadeloupe actress Firmine Richard. 

“The government has to bring clear solutions to the table when negotiations begin again,” said Désir to AFP reporters, “both for the 200 euro wage rise and on the need to deflate high prices.”

Demonstrators alternated between chants and cries in the French creole language of the islands, raising their fists to shouts of “Down with colonization”, “Two-hundred euros, yes we can!” and “Life is dear under those coconut trees”.

Negotiations suspended until Monday

The ongoing negotiations between the umbrella union LKP, employers and representatives of the French state were suspended on Friday night until Monday morning.

Elie Domota, the leader of the Collective Against Exploitation (LKP), described employers’ concessions to raise workers’ pay by between 50 and 70 euros a month as “insufficient”, and far from the 200 euros mark demanded by the unions. He conceded nonetheless that employers seemed “ready to give more”.

Some shops opened on Saturday, bringing respite to the famished islanders. Meanwhile security forces are busy dismantling the last of the blockades built by protesters. Long queues of cars were seen to be piling up in front of gas stations, as these also opened up for business.

Authorities dismantling blockades built by protesters. (Video in French by FRANCE 24's Willy Bracciano)

French President Nicolas Sarkozy issued a statement while on the sidelines of the French agricultural fair in Paris on Saturday, saying that “the worst of the crisis is behind us” but “a lot remains to be done”.

Many accuse the “békés”, descendants of the original white colonizers, of continuing to rule the island. For Martine Charles-Angèle, from Martinique, “apartheid is a reality in the Caribbean”.

Located in the Caribbean, Guadeloupe and Martinique are overseas departments of France with the same status as departments on the French mainland (le métropole). Guadeloupe is a group of five islands with a population of 400,000; Martinique a single island also with around 400,000 residents. The French government is represented by a prefect, appointed by the French president. Daily affairs are managed by councils elected by popular vote. The islands send representatives to the National Assembly and the Senate in Paris. Unemployment: 22.7% in Guadeloupe (compared with 8.1% in mainland France). Poverty rate: 12.5% in Guadeloupe (6.1% in mainland France). Racial composition: majority black, with significant white and Indian populations. The economy is largely in the hands of the "békés", the local name for white descendants of colonial landlords and plantation owners.