The priority objective of this curfew established "from 7:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m." is "the return to a peaceful situation" which "then allows (you) to dialogue, to work, to move forward", but also "the return of public service and the reopening of the school system, "prefect Stanislas Cazelle told AFP.

Security will be reinforced from Thursday night to Friday, he said, "with a more mobile device and more to target the most difficult points."

The blockage of certain axes continued Thursday on the two islands.

Tensions at Pointe-à-Pitre hospital since the start of the general strike on November 15 are starting to have their effects: an association of interns invoked on Wednesday the right of withdrawal of its members for "imminent danger" and hospital doctors are resigning.

"If the objective was to get the doctors to leave, we are getting there. And that will pose problems for the care of Guadeloupe patients," he lamented.

The management of the Martinique CHU for its part announced that "in the current context", it was forced "to activate the minimum service on all the sites of the CHUM in order to secure professionals and patients", due to "great difficulties in providing care in the institution".

Conciliation attempts

Local and national authorities have tried to open the door to dialogue with unions and elected officials on the two islands.

The leaders of the 17 trade unions, the prefect and the president of the executive council of the Territorial Collectivity of Martinique, Serge Letchimy, took part in a conciliation meeting at the prefecture on Thursday.

The participants came out after 4 hours, but no one has wished to express themselves so far on the content of the discussions.

Covid-19 in France: the situation in the West Indies Kenan AUGEARD AFP

In addition, the Minister of Overseas Sébastien Lecornu organized a videoconference with the mayors of Guadeloupe in the presence of the prefect, and members of the offices of the Minister of the Interior and the Minister of Solidarity and Health, in order to "make an update on the situation in Guadeloupe in terms of health, security and social ", according to the ministry.

A similar meeting will be organized on Friday at 3:00 p.m. with the president of the regional council, the president of the departmental council and the parliamentarians of the territory.

The wreckage of a burnt car blocks a street in Fort-de-France, November 25, 2021 LOIC VENANCE AFP

"During these free and open discussions, particular attention will be paid to the priorities of Guadeloupe youth," the ministry said in a statement.

To appease the situation, Prime Minister Jean Castex announced on Monday the creation of a "forum for dialogue" in order to "convince and support individually, humanely", the professionals concerned by the vaccination obligation.

The Minister of Health Olivier Véran also "decided to set up a structure which will make it possible to find a solution for each of the 1,400 people suspended because they are not in compliance with this vaccination obligation", explained Sébastien Lecornu.

© 2021 AFP