Macron and Johnson defy stormy reception to visit hurricane-hit Caribbean

French President Emmanuel Macron and British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson travelled on Tuesday to the hurricane-hit Caribbean, rebuffing criticism over the relief efforts as European countries boost aid to their devastated island territories.

Macron’s plane touched down in Saint Martin as anger grew over looting and lawlessness in the French-Dutch territory after Hurricane Irma.

“He needs to come to look around, so that he realises the horror here,” local resident Peggy Brun said.

Speaking in Guadeloupe earlier, Macron said the government began preparing “one of the biggest airlifts since World War II” days before Irma hit on Wednesday.

“Now is not the time for controversy,” he said, adding: “Returning life to normal is the absolute priority.”

The French, British and Dutch governments have faced criticism for failing to anticipate the disaster, with an editorial in The Telegraph newspaper calling the response “appallingly slow”.