For the fourth day, Guadeloupe continued to see its roads, as well as access to the CHU, blocked by demonstrators who oppose the health pass and the vaccination obligation for caregivers.
Several incidents were reported Thursday during the day, especially around the CHU where a tire dam was erected by protesters. The barrier was dismantled several times by the police and reassembled by the demonstrators before being set on fire on one of the two axes. The fire was then extinguished, the road was cleared and traffic resumed. However, on the CHU picket line, the only vehicles allowed to enter are ambulances.
A firefighter, carrying tires to a burning dam, was arrested and presented to a judge before being placed under judicial supervision, said the public prosecutor, Patrick Desjardin.
This Friday, a young person will be brought before the prosecution for immediate appearance for throwing projectiles and crowding, added the prosecutor who said that a police officer had been injured during the day.
"Complicated" situation at the CHU
"This violence can neither be tolerated nor accepted and must even be condemned by all", declared Thursday evening in a press release the prefect of Guadeloupe, Alexandre Rochatte, warning that "the perpetrators of violence will continue to be arrested and prosecuted.
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An increasingly chaotic situation in Guadeloupe.
The island has been totally paralyzed for 3 days.
The army arrives as reinforcements.
Dams, numerous clashes and snail operation on the island of
Guadeloupe for the third day of general strike against the obligation đź’‰ and the PS.
pic.twitter.com/aOxzaFXSiu
- Serge Bonza 🇨🇩 (@ginobonza) November 18, 2021
This movement is starting to have a direct impact on the island. “The situation is complicated at the CHU de Guadeloupe. Roadblocks, suspensions, sick leaves but also blockages and demonstrations in front of the hospital, etc., disrupt the smooth running of care. Chemotherapy, for example, could not be administered today. Doctors cannot return to their posts, ”explained Cédric Zolezzi, deputy CEO of the CHU de Guadeloupe. “There is filtering at the entrance, especially for interns, some of whom are prevented from passing. One of them was even attacked by a hooded person ”, he added, affirming“ that there is no possible dialogue ”.
#guadeloupe At Pointe a Pitre the situation was tense all night of 18 and 19/11 !!
Fires were lit in town
The police did not intervene and the firefighters in #greve are slow to intervene
To be continued .... # media #liberte pic.twitter.com/VUSkivMkOn
- The official Mike media (@LemediadeMike) November 19, 2021
For her part, the rector of the academic region, Christine Goff-Ziegler also condemned "all acts of vandalism and obstacles to movement" or "to access to establishments", of which the students "are the first victims. ".
As the tourist season begins and the state of emergency ends, economic activity is also disrupted due to roadblocks on the main roads.
the Union des Entreprises-Medef condemned "firmly the obstacles to freedom of movement".
And to add: “After months of restrictive measures for our population and for the economy of the country, it is unacceptable to allow this spiral of self-destruction to prosper.
".