This is a particularly strong statement that comes at a time when the West Indies are struck by violence.
The government is "ready" to speak about the autonomy of Guadeloupe, a department affected by a violent crisis, indicated in the night from Friday to this Saturday, Paris time, the Minister of Overseas, Sébastien Lecornu, also announcing the creation of "1000 subsidized jobs for young people".
During meetings in recent days to try to resolve the crisis, born of a refusal of the vaccine obligation against Covid-19 before expanding to social demands, "some elected officials have asked the question in the hollow of the 'autonomy,' said Sébastien Lecornu in a televised address to Guadeloupe.
“According to them, Guadeloupe could better manage itself.
They want less equality with France, more freedom of decision by local decision-makers.
The government is ready to talk about it, there are no bad debates as long as these debates serve to resolve the real problems of the daily life of Guadeloupe ”, continued the Minister.
34.5% of the population below the poverty line, an unemployment rate of 19%
Sébastien Lecornu also announced the funding of “1,000 jobs aided for young people, with specific support and training, in the non-profit sector, to support local authorities or social, sports and environmental associations”. In Guadeloupe, 34.5% of the population lives below the national poverty line, with a high unemployment rate (19%), especially among young people (35% in 2020 against a national average of 20%).
In an attempt to calm the spirits and put an end to the violence, the government previously indicated that it was postponing to December 31 the implementation of the vaccination obligation for caregivers and firefighters in Guadeloupe as in Martinique, where the dispute has stained. of oil. Sébastien Lecornu and the Minister of Health, Olivier Véran, also announced the lifting of suspensions for staff who will accept individual support. Those who refuse "will continue their suspension".
This announcement “does not change anything: we are not satisfied with this decision.
We ask for the withdrawal of the vaccination obligation, because our freedom to choose is violated, and the withdrawal of the health pass which prevents everyone from living ”, responded Sormain Sandrou, deputy secretary general of the UTS-UGTG of the CHU de Pointe-à-Pitre, present on the picket line in front of the establishment.
Live ammunition at law enforcement and journalists in Martinique
In addition, the prefect of Guadeloupe “decided to extend the curfew from 6 pm to 5 am until Monday, November 29, 2021 at 5 am”. Thursday, the prefect of Martinique, him, established a curfew "from 7 pm to 5 am until the return to calm". What had started a few days ago in these two islands with blockades and pickets quickly slipped into violence against the police, fires and looting. Law enforcement and journalists were targeted by gunfire on the night of Thursday to Friday in Martinique, where the violence left ten officers injured, including five by bullets. About ten arrests took place.
In addition, the prosecutor of Pointe-à-Pitre, Patrick Desjardins, indicated Friday that the first results of an investigation carried out after the injury of a young man Wednesday near a dam show "that the injury does not come from no case of gunfire but more likely of the impact of a piece of tear gas grenade fired by the gendarmerie as part of the operation to maintain order ”.
