Tensions are growing in Martinique, on the sidelines of the strike against the health pass and the vaccination obligation – Martinique the 1st – Overseas the 1st

Tuesday, November 23, 2021, after a first day of mobilization of the inter-union the day before, in particular against the health pass and the vaccination obligation of caregivers, tensions intensified on the island.

Very early at dawn, several roadblocks were erected on strategic roads thus preventing motorists from converging on the two economic lungs, in Lamentin and Fort-de-France.

Previously during the night, young people set fire to garbage cans and personal vehicles in Sainte-Thérèse, on avenue Maurice Bishop, a district of Fort-de-France where residents had already deplored urban violence on July 31.

Charred cars on avenue Maurice Bishop, in the Sainte-Thérèse district in Fort-de-France, on the night of Monday 22 to Tuesday 23 November 2021.

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© Marco Calmo

Again, National Police officers came under fire with live ammunition as they attempted to disperse the troublemakers. The unions are very angry.

There are no injured officials at the moment, but it will increase. Understand that at some point, those who shoot at the police will take the risk of being shot too.

We don’t want that.

There are problems that we experience from day to day, they must be resolved by political responses (…).

Chaos is not a policy.

(Thierry Baucelin, territorial secretary of Alliance Police sur Martinique 1st radio)

The trade unionist also added that the authors of these facts “will be questioned” sooner or later.

Charred car on boulevard Maurice Bishop in Sainte-Thérèse (Fort-de-France). Bullet impact on another vehicle.

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© DR

A disrupted international transatlantic

Monday, November 22, at the end of the day, on the sidelines of the inter-union parade, the tension was already very strong on the seafront of Fort-de-France, when several exhibitors from the village of the transat Jacques Vabre decided to fold their installations, as a result of persistent threats on social networks. A message indeed invited motorcyclists to come in large numbers to the reception site with “coolers, balaclavas and gloves” for “fart that” specified the WhatsApp “while there is no tour of the skiffs”.

All forms of violence are to be condemned, all forms of violence and hostage-taking (…).

We have to find the real solutions and the real remedies (…).

Martinique cannot shut itself in on itself either.

(Johnny Hajjar, secretary general of the Martinique Progressive Party)

The appeal of the mayor of Fort-de-France

It is in this context that the mayor of Fort-de-France launched a “call to dialogue” in a press release dated November 22, 2021.

Taking into account the situation in our territory, and in order to find solutions allowing to guarantee an offer of care for all Martinique residents and to consider opening up perspectives of application of the adaptation of the sanitary measures in force, such as recommended by the President of the Executive Council of the CTM, the mayor proposed to extend to the health, social and medico-social sector, the postponement of the vaccination obligation decided by the government until December 31, 2021.

(Didier Laguerre)

PALIMA for its part, “solemnly calls on the French government to open, immediately and at the highest level, negotiations with social forces in Martinique in order to finally provide the concrete political responses necessary to resolve the current crisis”. The spokesperson for the independence party suggests in particular on his Facebook page, a “co-management” of the crisis.

Co-management of the health crisis between the State and the Martinican authorities, on the basis of an intelligent and responsible Martinican consensus, taking into consideration all the questions (health, education, culture, sport, economy) concerning the life of our population (…).

(Francis Carole)

Meetings are planned between the authorities (Prefecture and Territorial Collectivity of Martinique) and the inter-union mobilized with more than 15 organizations. PCE Serge Letchimy is due to speak on Wednesday, November 24, 2021, after several talks with the leaders of the political groups in the Martinique Assembly, as well as union representation.