Protesters storm Guadeloupe legislature over vaccination requirements

Protesters stormed Guadeloupe’s regional legislature in defiance of the COVID-19 vaccination requirements imposed by the government, The Associated Press reported. 

During a council meeting, demonstrators brought out a banner that read “No to Obligatory Vaccination, No to the Health Pass,” and kicked over a Christmas tree. 

In a tweet, the council said its president, Ary Chalus, has offered to meet with 10 of the protesters’ representatives after the demonstration. 

However, Guadeloupe and French officials also denounced the demonstrations, calling them unacceptable and a threat to the democratically elected body, according to the AP. 

Depuis 12h14, le président de la collectivité régionale, Ary Chalus, a proposé de rencontrer une dizaine de personnes du collectif sous réserve que l’hôtel de Région soit libéré… pic.twitter.com/w2wXVoFR3C

— Région Guadeloupe (@CRGuadeloupe) December 23, 2021

“Since 12:14, the president of the regional community, Ary Chalus, has offered to meet around 10 people from the collective, subject to the regional hotel being released,” the council said in a tweet, translated from French. 

The demonstrators are also seeking better access to drinking water, pension and wage increases, and more employment opportunities, the AP reported. 

This comes as labor unions and the Collective Against Exploitation have asked the French government to end a measure that required health workers to be placed on unpaid leave if they are not vaccinated against the virus. 

Guadeloupe, an overseas department of France, is also seeing a rise in COVID-19 infections and on Thursday implemented a mask mandate for indoor and outdoor public spaces and a health pass for tourist activities, the AP noted.