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Macron warns of “very explosive” situation on French Caribbean island

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1 year ago

November 22, 2021

French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday (22) promised to increase vaccination in the French overseas territory of Guadeloupe, amid what he described as a “very explosive situation” on the island of Caribbean, with growing tensions over compulsory vaccination.

“Our priority is to continue to convince [a população da ilha] that vaccination is the best protection, ”Macron said.

Guadeloupe’s vaccination rate last week was 33% of the total population – well below France’s overall rate of 75.1%.

Unions on the Franco-Caribbean island called for a general strike last Monday in response to the government demanding full vaccination for health professionals and a vaccine passport, or “health pass.” Protesters blocked roads and clashed with police throughout the week, and many shops remained closed after the nightly looting.

Around 200 police officers and members of the French military corps, as well as 50 officers from two elite tactical units, have been sent to the island to reinforce local police units, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on Twitter . A total of 2,250 officers work to maintain order on the island.

These elite tactical units are responsible for counterterrorism, hostage recovery situations, and combating organized crime, and are similar to the FBI’s SWAT.

In the streets of Guadeloupe’s main town, Point-à-Pitre, you can find burnt cars and rubble after a night of fighting. Police forces arrested dozens of people and, according to French media, demonstrators broke into a weapons depot and took guns.

Guadeloupe has already been hit by violent protests, but according to the mayor of the island, there are now “great concerns” as there are now weapons present. Schools are closed on the territory.

Macron said the unrest in Guadeloupe was “tied to a very local context” and linked to “historical tensions”.

The French overseas territories have long maintained difficult relations with the continent, in part because of the history of French slavery and the relative poverty of the territories compared to the GDP per capita of the European country. In Martinique, another French overseas territory located 190 kilometers south of Guadeloupe, signs of protest are spreading across the island.

With information from Reuters

* (Text translated. Click here to read the original).

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