Between 2,000 and 3,000 demonstrators marched on Saturday in the streets of Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe to protest in particular against the layoffs announced by companies because of the Covid-19 health crisis.

But older issues have also resurfaced.

Between 2,000 and 3,000 demonstrators, according to the organizers, marched on Saturday in the streets of Pointe-à-Pitre, in Guadeloupe, at the call of 11 unions, to protest in particular against the layoffs announced by companies because of the health crisis .

Masked or not, the demonstrators marched in the streets of Pontoise, sometimes to the sound of chachas (Caribbean percussion), to express their anger.

Health crisis, layoffs, respect for collective agreements, demand for tenure, wearing of the compulsory mask for children at school from 6 years old or the chlordecone scandal: this great march has crystallized many grievances expressed for several weeks, even several months. in Guadeloupe.

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The compulsory wearing of a mask from 6 years also criticized

"Recruitments for all!", One could read, or "sablyè on strike" in reference to a strike of the agents of the sand pits of Guadeloupe which has lasted for nearly four months.

"Children in danger" or "not to asphyxia" had for their part written parents of students opposed to the compulsory wearing of the mask from 6 years old, entered into force Monday in Guadeloupe.

A group of parents has thus claimed several blockades and snail operations on the roads of the archipelago for a week.

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An "extremely difficult situation, at all levels"

The unions denounce the "layoffs" announced in several companies due to the economic crisis linked to the Covid-19 epidemic, but also returned to older issues.

"We are in an extremely difficult situation today and this at all levels: work, transport, water, daily life chlordecone etc", thus summarized Élie Domota, of the UGTG.

The latter, leader of the great protest movement that took place in 2009, paralyzing the archipelago for 44 days, spoke in the local media of "contempt for slave bosses" and announced an "amplification" of the movement.  

Max Evariste, secretary general of the Departmental Union FO-Force Ouvrière stressed the importance of mobilization "despite the Covid".

"We have the number that's what makes our strength", he observed, announcing, a continuation of the movement, just like Teddy Tancons, academic secretary SNCL (national union college and high schools) who evoked the "positions that we delete "and" our laureates who are obliged to leave ".

So "there will be a sequel", according to him.