The French Prime Minister François Fillon has cancelled a scheduled visit to New Caledonia later this month.
The visit to the Pacific was announced last month and was to have taken place mid-March.
The Rassemblement-UMP party leader in New Caledonia, Pierre Frogier, says they would have been delighted to welcome Mr Fillon, but they understand that the situation in the French West Indies is his priority right now.
Oceania Flash reports the French Commissioner in New Caledonia, Yves Dassonville, saying Mr Fillon will no doubt visit the territory in the second half of this year.
