Following the French government's decision to introduce compulsory vaccination for health care workers and the health pass in several public places, acts of vandalism, a general strike, and demonstrations began, first in Guadeloupe and then in Martinique.[5]
On November 26, the Minister for Overseas France, Sébastien Lecornu, announced the postponement of the vaccination requirement until December 31 and said he was ready to "talk about the autonomy of Guadeloupe"[9]
Gunfire, mortar fire, flaming barricades, tear gas: in the streets of the small town of Lamentin to the east of Fort-de-France, en Martinique, the aftermath of the evacuation of the Mahault roundabout looked like a "small urban war" on the night from 1 to 2 December.[10]
On January 3, a group of organizations opposed to the health pass and mandatory vaccination organized a "snail operation" by car, which led to traffic jams.[13]
On January 4, a series of small roadblocks were set up and fires started in the municipality of Sainte-Rose.[14]
The same day, trade unionists from the UTS-UGTG blocked the administrative building of the University Hospital of Pointe-à-Pitre and sequestered the staff for several hours.[15]
On January 10, roadblocks were set up by demonstrators and stones were thrown at the police in Basse-Terre.[17]
On January 11, protesters demonstrated outside Pointe-à-Pitre university hospital and clashed with police.[18][19]
On January 20, rioters injured a police officer with live ammunition on the sidelines of unauthorized demonstrations. The administrative building of the Basse-Terre hospital was invaded by about forty people.[20]
