Culture of Martinique descended from African slaves brought to work on sugar plantations during the colonial era, white slave owners or from Carib or Kalinago people. Today, the island enjoys a higher standard of living than most other Caribbean countries. The finest French products are easily available, from Chanel fashions to Limoges porcelain. Among young people, studying in France is common. For the French, Martinique has been a vacation hotspot for many years, attracting both the upper class and more budget-conscious travelers. Music contributes a great deal to Martinique's culture. The most popular style is zouk, which originated in Martinique and Guadeloupe by
Caribbean Islands Swimming Championships Caribbean Islands Swimming Championships The Caribbean Islands Swimming Championships, or "CISCs", is a biennial aquatics championships held in even years. They are organized by CCCAN and feature age-group competition for teams from Caribbean island nations. They have been held since 1976, and feature competition in 5 of FINA's Aquatics disciplines: swimming, open water, diving, water polo, and synchronized swimming. The CISCs predominantly features teams from the Caribbean, but traditionally also includes Guyana and Suriname, members of CONSANAT--South America's Swimming Confederation. Twenty (21) countries have been invited to the 2016 Championships: Residents of the French islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique have