The nearby island of Martinique is facing a general strike that started Monday over virus rules and long-standing grievances with the mainland.Īngela Charlton and Sylvie Corbet contributed to this report from Paris. There are tensions that we know about that are historic,” French President Emmanuel Macron said Monday, adding that “the vaccine is the best protection, and to not cede to lies or manipulation. “There is a situation that is very explosive, there is a very local context. Guadeloupe President Ary Chalus decried the looting: “We cannot destroy what we built together.” But he noted that the riots are “about more than mandatory vaccination,” and lamented on television that the central French government hasn’t responded to requests for economic support “as fast as they sent in law enforcement” to quell the rioting. Outside the main hospital, striking workers have set up a camp against mandatory vaccinations for health workers, and sympathizers bring food. Nails, broken glass and tree trunks littered the streets and one woman rummaged through the charred remains of her home. Smoke wafted up from heaps of burning garbage.
Police were clearing major thoroughfares of road blockades that have made movement difficult for days. On Monday, the mood in Guadeloupe’s main city of Pointe-a-Pitre changed from street to street. He called for calm and promised a dialogue with health care workers who are opposed to vaccination. There is also distrust toward central authorities stemming frompast health scandals.įrench Prime Minister Jean Castex held an emergency video conference Monday with officials from the region. Guadeloupe’s COVID-19 vaccination rate is 33%, compared to 75% nationwide, which authorities blame on false information about vaccines shared online. While mainland France has seen similar protests, demonstrators in Guadeloupe are also angry over deep-seated economic, social and racial inequality, and expanded their demands in recent days to include a general salary increase, higher unemployment benefits and the hiring of more teachers. A weapons store was among businesses looted, the regional prosecutor said. Guadeloupe’s education department ordered schools closed Monday and urged parents to keep their children at home.ĭemonstrations in Guadeloupe, an overseas French department of about 400,000 people, erupted over France’s mandatory vaccinations for health care workers and the country’s COVID-19 health pass, which is required to enter restaurants and many other venues across France.Īs they degenerated into rioting, an 80-year-old woman was hit by a bullet while on her balcony and at least two others were injured, according to local authorities.
“We have several patients” in the blockaded area of La Boucan, tweeted Patrick Portecop, head of the regional emergency service. He said some patients who need to receive kidney dialysis treatment couldn’t get access to a hospital and “are now in danger.” The prefect of Guadeloupe said 11 people were arrested by police overnight Sunday into Monday. And while you're at it, why not take a look at stores open on Christmas, too? Just remember: You'll want to call ahead to be sure your local store is actually operating under the hours we've listed.LE GOSIER, Guadeloupe (AP) - Schools closed across the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe on Monday and France’s prime minister appealed for calm and dialogue after protests against COVID-19 rules and vaccinations descended into days of rioting and looting.įrance’s central government sent in police special forces to restore order in Guadeloupe, as emergency workers said they were unable to reach neighborhoods barricaded by angry crowds.
Services and Prices: Open year-round as weather permits. The course features narrow, tree-lined fairlways and rolling terrain. That said, if you're in need of some last-minute snacks to round out the meal, there are plenty of grocery stores open on Christmas this year. Description: Holiday Ilsand Golf Course is a 18 Hole Champion Course just minutes from Eureka Springs, Arkansas. And then, a steakhouse dinner from Del Frisco's or Morton's enjoyed in the comfort of your PJs? Sign us up! Stop by your favorite coffee shop and enjoy a little pick-me-up after all of the gift-wrapping and Christmas activities with family. It's a win-win! The best part is, most of these restaurants offer heat-and-serve options or takeout, meaning you can pick up the food and enjoy it at home together. Think about it: You can still enjoy a holiday meal together, but you can skip all the stress of planning and cooking. It's true for the Drummonds, at least: Just look at their matching Christmas pajamas! Still, you might be looking to shake things up a little bit in 2021.in which case, checking out these restaurants open on Christmas could be a great idea. For most families, returning to the same Christmas traditions year after year is a big part of what makes the holiday so special.