The French government says it is ready to discuss autonomy with Guadeloupe struggling with health riots and strikes which are signs of a long frustration felt on the Caribbean island.
Overseas Minister Sébastien Lecornu raised this possibility on Friday during a televised speech. It was not long before he drew the wrath of conservative and far-right candidates in the next presidential election in April.
Guadeloupe uses the euro as its currency. Its political links are very close with mainland France. Like the neighboring island of Martinique, Guadeloupe is experiencing high unemployment, a high cost of living and persistent anger that has prompted local officials to demand change.
Guadeloupe and Martinique are overseas departments.
“Some elected officials have asked the question in hollow of autonomy, compared to its current status of overseas department-region,” declared Mr. Lecornu. According to them, Guadeloupe could better manage itself. They want less equality with France, more freedom of decision by local decision-makers. The government is ready to talk about it. “
The minister condemned the rioters who carried out acts of looting and those who erected roadblocks preventing patients from receiving medical treatment and causing classrooms to be closed. He acknowledged that there were “structural problems” behind this anger. He wants a collective response.
Recent tensions in Guadeloupe and Martinique worsened when the government wanted to impose compulsory vaccination on all workers in the health system and a vaccination passport. To obtain the latter, residents must prove that they are vaccinated, have been diagnosed negative or have recovered from the virus.
But social issues, such as higher wages, increased unemployment benefits and greater hiring of teachers, quickly added to the demands.
A third of the population of Guadeloupe lives below the poverty line. The unemployment rate is 17%. The cost of living is high because the supply depends largely on imports from mainland France. The aqueduct network is obsolete. For part of the population, relations between Guadeloupe and mainland France have a hint of colonialism. Some have pointed out that a dangerous pesticide banned in France remained in use for several years on the island.
The French government has also announced that it is postponing the implementation of compulsory vaccination for caregivers to December 31.