While the carnival tries to reinvent itself in Guadeloupe and that new festivities were announced for this Shrove Tuesday of “kannaval”, the authorities marked the blow.
Prosecutions will be launched after the "tumble", the parade, organized Sunday between Abymes and Pointe-à-Pitre despite the ban due to the epidemic of covid-19, announced the prefecture of the island.
"Several hundred people", according to local media, gathered on Sunday evening to march in the Pointoise area.
In a press release, the prefecture said "deplore these irresponsible behavior on the part of the organizers and participants who trained young children" and announces proceedings against them.
"Without distancing or wearing a mask, this parade is likely to increase the number of new contaminations," said the press release.
“After a broad consultation, the groups committed themselves in 2021 to make carnival differently taking into account the safety of all.
The tumbles must not spoil in a few evenings the efforts of the entire population for several months, ”insists the prefect Alexandre Rochatte.
[#Covid 19 and Carnival] This Monday February 15, 2021, the Prefect recalls in his press release, the prohibition and the danger represented by the gatherings following the tumult of Sunday February 14, 2021 from Abymes to Pointe-à-Pitre.
pic.twitter.com/Ct7sDa864Z
- Prefect of Guadeloupe (@ Prefet971) February 15, 2021
It is in anticipation of this very popular festival in West Indian and Caribbean culture, and after the detection of a case of an English variant, that Martinique and Guadeloupe announced three days ago new restrictions for travel between two islands.
As of Tuesday, a "compelling reason" is again required.
"Avoid a new rebound in the epidemic"
At the beginning of February, a “wild tumble” in Morne-à-l'Eau (town in the north of Grande Terre) had resulted, after identification of the participants, in around thirty tickets of 135 euros, drawn up for “violation of the ban gatherings of more than 6 people ”.
"Even if they are restrictive, [these measures] aim to break the chains of contamination and to avoid a new rebound of the epidemic", insists the prefecture.
And Monday, a "videotape" took place in Martinique, in Schoelcher.
There too, obviously, the rules of physical distancing were not respected, and the wearing of the mask very accessory.
To avoid any risk, a channeled carnival is organized at the Pierre-Aliker stadium in Fort-de-France.
#Martinique # Carnaval🎉Big videotape not allowed at Schoelcher🎉 (XC image) pic.twitter.com/q8nv0jslUX
- Martiniquela1ère (@ Martiniquela1e) February 15, 2021
# Communiqué # Carnaval2021
Security measures in #FortdeFrance during the shiny days pic.twitter.com/VgjYKcMWaa
- Fort-de-France Ville (@fdfville) February 10, 2021
The number of contaminations is increasing in Guadeloupe (103 new positive cases between February 1 and 7, against 73 the previous week, according to Public Health France) and the archipelago now has several cases of patients positive for the British variant (five residents of Guadeloupe positive as of February 12).
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In Martinique, the incidence rate is stable at 19.2 per 100,000 inhabitants.
