French authorities have imposed a week-long curfew in the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe following ‘quasi-insurrectional’ unrest.
Islanders are angry after Paris announced that health workers across all French territories must have Covid vaccinations.
This sparked demonstrations that degenerated into the torching and looting of shops and pharmacies and clashes with police.
Maité Hubert M’Toumo, the secretary general of the island’s biggest union, the UGTG, called for more protests.
He said they had been sparked by the vaccine order but were symptomatic of a greater malaise.
“They express the depth of suffering, inequality, poverty and exclusion felt by the people, especially the young and the elderly,” he said.
Similar protesters took into streets in several European cities against the new restrictions and COVID-19 passes mandatory in many European countries.
Demonstrations against virus restrictions took place in Switzerland, Croatia, Italy, Northern Ireland and the Netherlands.
Protesters rallied against coronavirus restrictions and mandatory COVID-19 passes required in many European countries to enter restaurants, Christmas markets or sports events, as well as mandatory vaccinations.
COVID-19 cases are on the rise again in various parts of Europe. The cold weather has affected the spread of the virus.
Governments have imposed new travel restrictions across Europe in a bid to confront the spread of the new coronavirus wave.
