Along Sainte-Anne beach in Guadeloupe, most bars and restaurants are closed due to roadblocks, supplies become difficult and employees can no longer come to work. Stéphanie is on vacation here with her husband for ten days. A bit of a special vacation. “We arrived on Thursday, it took five hours to cover 40 km, she says. We don’t dare to move, we don’t want to be stuck in roadblocks, riots. So we don’t go out a lot. So there is nothing we can do. “ Anger, Stéphanie ensures that she understands it, “Because it is true that there are demands and that is understandable. What I do not understand is violence. We have to hear them, but not under these conditions.”
>> Crisis in Guadeloupe: why the executive is monitoring the situation like milk on fire
The curfew is extended until November 28. The roadblocks to protest against the health pass and the vaccination obligation for caregivers continue to block the main roads of the island. Consequence: the local economy is slowing down. In the Sainte-Anne market, souvenir sellers are desperately waiting for customers. Beatrice is installed behind her stall where spices and bottles of rum are piled up. “It’s very complicated because with dams, you can’t sell anything, she laments. They prevent tourists from coming to the market. “ Usually she sells for “about 300 euros” of goods, but at the moment she cannot even collect 50 euros.
“There is no money, there is nothing. I hope there will be no more roadblocks so that the tourist can pass to make me work. If there are roadblocks, I can not work.”
This protest movement worries tourism professionals like Michel. It offers boat trips to the islands of the archipelago. “There are a lot of people who cancel, a lot of people who have questions, he confides. And as it looks like Guadeloupe is on fire and blood, there are a lot of people who are afraid. We can understand them. “ Michel regrets that tourists, but especially that Guadeloupe are penalized. “These are the people who have a job, who have children, who have a family, he continues. And I understand the social movement. But blocking your own people to end up at a negotiating table is a bit of coffee. “
Despite everything, the Guadeloupe tourism committee remains optimistic. Because for the month of December, the reservation rate in hotels is currently over 70%.
Guadeloupe, the economic impact of the crisis: report by Yann Gallic
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