Paris (AFP)
Former Minister Christiane Taubira refused on Thursday to call on the population of Guyana, where she is from, to be vaccinated against Covid-19, arguing that she does not have "elements of information" on the situation and does not want to "discredit" his "strong words".
Guyana remains very affected by the coronavirus epidemic, with an incidence rate of 498 cases per 100,000 inhabitants and an increase in hospitalizations on September 21, according to the Regional Health Agency.
Only 29.6% of Guyanese aged 12 and over were fully vaccinated as of September 15, compared to 81.7% of the eligible population for the whole of France, according to figures from Public Health France.
Asked about RTL on the reasons why she did not appeal to them to be massively vaccinated, Christiane Taubira considered that she had "not vocation" to do so.
"I am a politician who is not in office and who therefore does not have the elements of information which would allow him formally either to give instructions, or to consider that in view of these elements of information I consider that I am speaking responsibly, ”she said.
While it was pointed out to her that this position was "easy" for the former member of Guyana, whose speech is nevertheless considered strong, she argued that it was precisely "because this speech (was) strong "that she" does not discredit her (rait) ".
"The question of the weight, the legitimacy, the credibility of public speech is a real question," added Ms. Taubira.
In this regard, "appointing a mediator" would be "responsible", "because obviously there is no longer any capacity for agreement between the official word, the authorities on the spot", and the Guyanese, has t -she says.
Ms. Taubira further said that "before blaming the Guyanese, the Guyanese must take and take seriously the issue of health."
Emphasizing the remoteness of Guyana from the metropolis, she further argued "that we (could) not do the same analysis" for the two territories, where the vaccination rates are "practically the opposite".
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