Martinique History/Politics Martinique is an overseas Territorial collectivity of France. It has the same political status as homeland regions in France. The island was initially occupied by Arawak and Carib natives. It is believed that the first Arawaks arrived in Martinique from South America in 130 AD. When Mt Pelee erupted in 295 AD, it resulted in the devastation of the island's population. While the Arawaks did return and repopulate the island around 400 AD, the Caribs arrived in 600 AD and they annihilated the Arawak population. The Caribs settled on the island for a couple of centuries after this. During his fourth voyage in 1502, Martinique was discovered by Christopher Columbus. The indigenous Indians referred to the island as “the island of flowers”. In 1625, “Campagnie des lles d’Amerique” was hired with Messrs L’Olive and Duplessis to gain control and govern the islands belonging to the French crown. On September 1st