Martinique: a vaccinodrome and a pharmacy set on fire after the establishment of a curfew

Gendarmes check vehicles in Ducos, Martinique on July 30, 2021, while containment has entered into force with only limited movement authorized during the day and a curfew from 7 p.m. (illustrative image).

AFP - LIONEL CHAMOISEAU

Text by: RFI Follow

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A vaccinodrome and a pharmacy were set on fire during clashes between a hundred demonstrators and the police on Saturday evening in Fort-de-France in Martinique the day after the establishment of a new curfew decided this week by the prefecture of the West Indian island.

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At around 9:00 p.m., two hours after the curfew was instituted, a rally formed.

The procession then headed for downtown Fort-de-France to the sounds of drums in a festive carnival atmosphere.

But everything changed when the police, using tear gas, tried to push back the demonstrators, in vain.

It was then the explosion of violence: tires, pallets and various objects made it possible to erect barricades to form infernos.

A vaccinodrome and a pharmacy were set on fire while a hypermarket was ransacked.

Five vehicles were also set on fire, indicated the prefecture of Martinique by " 

strongly condemning this unacceptable violence

 ".

A gendarmerie helicopter came to reinforce the police to disperse the crowd.

In the afternoon of this Saturday, some 500 people demonstrated against the health pass in Fort-de-France.

Martinique in a state of health emergency since July 13, has experienced a re-containment since Friday evening for a period of at least three weeks because the health situation is worrying in the Overseas Territories where the hospital tension is increasingly strong.

For example, no resuscitation bed is available. 

Faced with the saturation of hospitals, three patients with Covid-19 were transferred from Fort-de-France to Paris.

While half of the French population in France is fully vaccinated, this figure plummets in Martinique, barely reaching 17%.

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To read also: “Dramatic situation”: Reunion and Martinique reconfigured, the army in reinforcement

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  • Martinique

  • France

  • Overseas

  • Coronavirus

  • Confinement