The mayor of a French colonial city hit by protests over government repression on the French overseas territory of Guadeloupe has called on Paris to restore peace on the island after an arms depot was looted amid the unrest.

Speaking to France Info radio on Monday, Pointe-a-Pitre Mayor Harry Durimel said there were big worries on the island, as rioters now had guns and substantial ammunition after the arms depot was broken into on Sunday. The question being asked: was the army complicit in the arms heist? The media reported that rifles were taken from the depot located in the coastal city.

‘We just don’t know how far this will still go,’ Durimel stated as he called on France to restore peace and order on the Caribbean Island. The nervous mayor said he could still hear noise from protests outside as he spoke in the early hours of the morning. 

The island has descended into chaos after labour unions organised walkouts last week to challenge restrictions that the government claim to be Covid-related, including the introduction of illegal mandatory vaccination for health workers.

French Prime Minister Jean Castex is meeting with Guadeloupe lawmakers on Monday to attempt to resolve the crisis. 

Schools and colleges will not welcome students on Monday with the protests ongoing and many roads blocked by protesting workers. According to the president of the local chamber of commerce, Patrick Vial-Collet, more than 80 businesses have been looted since the protests began. After the arms heist, the worry is that government and press owned buildings could find themselves on the frontlines of a conflict between the people and deaf government.

FOR WANT OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT SOME NEWS STORIES ARE UNPUBLISHED

To Help Contact Michael Walsh, Editor euroman_uk@yahoo.co.uk

France has flown over 200 police officers and gendarmes with riot arms and equipment from the mainland to the island and introduced a night curfew in an attempt to quell the unrest. 

According to French media, unions on the island of Martinique have called for a general strike, raising fears that the unrest could spread to other French island territories. If you like this story, share it with a friend!