France is to send 200 extra police to deal with days of rising violence and tensions in its overseas territory of Guadeloupe.
The disorder comes in response to harsh pandemic restrictions enforced by the government in a bid to curb the growing COVID infection rate. The archipelogo of Guadeloupe is located at the eastern end of the Carribean islands and has a population nearing 400,000 across its six inhabited islands.
A week of protests has seen cars and buildings torched and street demonstrations, while doctors, firefighters and other workers have walked off the job. The protests are in response to the imposition of mandatory vaccinations for essential workers.
As in mainland France, residents are also required to present proof of vaccination, a negative PCR test or show they recently recovered from the virus in order to enter a number of public establishments, including restaurants and museums.
Those policies have proven unpopular for many locals, with trade unions launching indefinite strikes in protest over the last week, joined by other residents in street demonstrations, according to RT News.
Barrages incendiées et affront*ments cette nuit en #Guadeloupe où la grève générale illimitée, enclenchée contre le pass sanitaire et l'obligation vaccinale exprime désormais une colère plus large contre les problématiques sociales, économiques et environnementales de l'île. pic.twitter.com/gXToww1gXZ
— Anonyme Citoyen (@AnonymeCitoyen) November 18, 2021
De nombreux barrages ce matin en #Guadeloupe pour la quatrième journée de grève générale illimitée contre le pass sanitaire et l'obligation vaccinale. #GreveGenerale pic.twitter.com/qYVjfVHZld
— Anonyme Citoyen (@AnonymeCitoyen) November 18, 2021
