Guadeloupe: the autonomy of the island invites itself in the demonstrations against the vaccine obligation

Matthieu Bock, edited by Antoine Terrel 07:23, November 28, 2021

REPORTING

In Guadeloupe, on Saturday, several thousand people once again marched in the streets to protest against the vaccine obligation against Covid-19.

In Pointe-à-Pitre, no overflow was to report, but if these demands at the heart of the current discontent were omnipresent in the procession, the words of the Minister of Overseas Sébastien Lecornu, who declared that the government was " ready "to talk about the" autonomy "of the island, were also on everyone's mind.

"It must be put on the table"

Also, for the demonstrators, the question of autonomy is inevitably inevitable, as for Reyna, a black and red cloth rolled up on the head.

"We must first settle the problems which are the 33 points of demands, and then, I think that too, that must be put on the table," she said.

"Why are we forced to seek our essence so far," she asks.

"If we were allowed to get our gasoline in the Caribbean, we wouldn't pay for gasoline that expensive."

A little further on, Christophe, who advances while dancing to the rhythm of the percussions, already sees the freedom that more autonomy would give to Guadeloupe.

"With what is happening today, we would have decided beforehand, two years ago, that the borders would be closed, and would not have had what we have today."

"Autonomy is not independence"

But Jean-Pierre explains that autonomy is not independence.

"We must not mix autonomy and independence," he recalls, calling for "at least food autonomy, autonomy over school."

"The education system is not suitable for Guadeloupe children compared to children who were born in Brittany or Corsica," he adds.

But most of the demonstrators say: we will have to talk about autonomy, but later.

The priority remains the cancellation of the vaccination obligation.