According to a press release from the Regional Health Agency (ARS, in French) of Guadeloupe, on December 31, 2021: “the level of viral circulation has increased” (…) the rates have gone in a few days far above the alert threshold. The spread of the virus is exponential. 2191 new positive cases have been detected in 4 days on the territory. 11 new clusters are being monitored in Guadeloupe and in the Northern Islands – St Martin & St Barth – (schools, hotels, discotheques, bars, private parties) (…) There have been 25 new Covid hospitalizations in Guadeloupe and 2 new acute resuscitation admissions (…)”.
Following all this alarming information, many thought that the Prefect of Guadeloupe would cancel the traditional parade of the first Sunday of January. But, no news from the Prefecture.
Result : yesterday, in the evening, Guadeloupeans (revelers and spectators) gathered in the streets of Pointe-à-Pitre especially during the “déboulé” (parade) of skin groups (Moun Ki Moun, Akiyo, for example). The day before in the morning, some skin groups like Nasyon a Nèg Mawon had paraded to the Bas-du-Fort for the traditional “Bain démarré” in the sea which is supposed to bring them good luck in 2022.
It seems that the new “Omicron” variant, described as extremely contagious by scientists, does not scare many people. From 849 cases on December 27, the number of cases has more than doubled to 2191 on December 31. According to the ARS press release : “during the last 4 days, 18,300 additional tests have been counted. The Omicron variant is present in 46% of the samples taken in Guadeloupe”.
Some people say that Guadeloupeans must be “suicidal” to defy Covid-19 which has already killed 831 people.
Others answer that they refuse to be used as “lab rats” for a vaccine that would not be completely developed since it does not prevent you from catching Covid-19 and contaminating others. And, to illustrate their point, they name relatives, friends or neighbors who have died after being vaccinated or who ended up in the emergency room while being vaccinated… Moreover, they reply that there are already all kinds of diseases in the archipelago and all kinds of “comorbidities” (a word that has become very fashionable here since the pandemic), in short, this is just one more disease…
Recall that according to the Regional Health Observatory of Guadeloupe (ORSaG, in French), in 2019 nearly 95,000 people (out of a total population of more than 375,000 inhabitants) were suffering from long-term diseases, mostly women (56%). It should also be noted that more than half (53.03%) of the population of the archipelago is not vaccinated and this is a major concern for the authorities. TV spots featuring celebrities for a fee, interviews with doctors, posters, among other things do not seem to have any effect on those who do not want to be vaccinated. Last July, when Jacob Desvarieux has passed away from Covid-19, some voices raised themselves in a shocked population to protest : “Me, this vaccine, never! The leader of the famous zouk band Kassav’ had much highlighted the benefits of the vaccine and had even taken 3 doses …
On December 28, 2021, the Regional Health Agency has indicated on its website that 46.97% of people over 18 years are vaccinated in Guadeloupe. It is important to specify that the vast majority of these unvaccinated people are not part of the Collective of organizations fighting against the vaccine obligation and the health pass defending in particular employees of the health sector as well as firemen whose work contract was suspended and whose salary was not paid to enforce the law of August 5, 2021. This silent majority does not march in the streets…
Still others, often young people, retort that popular culture that carnival represents is in danger, that we must go and defend it and thus organize carnival in 2022 which was cancelled in 2021…
And then, there is this nagging question that comes to everyone’s lips : “The French State wants to protect us from Covid but where was it during all those years when the bodies of Guadeloupeans as well as the land where they live were poisoned by chlordecone used in banana plantations?” The disastrous management of this file has completely discredited the word of the State. And this aspect of the problem (vaccine refusal) is not understood by many in France, in the Caribbean or elsewhere : why more than half of the Guadeloupean population is not vaccinated when there are doses galore and several brands, unlike some countries (especially Caribbean) because these medecines are expensive?
Today, are we heading towards a cancellation of carnival festivities in the archipelago by the Prefecture? Will there be a consultation meeting between the Prefect, representative of the French State, and the carnival groups to consider this option due to the “low” vaccination rate of the population, the presence of the variant Omicron and the sudden increase of cases in recent days?
In 2021, the organization of parades through the streets was prohibited, but the bands could play music in their premises with a defined number of members and film themselves, a small consolation for street carnival groups. Obviously, this prefectural arrangement did not prevent some from organizing “wild” parades, according to the authorities’ word.
In the Caribbean, some English-speaking islands have just celebrated their carnival. For example, for the 50th edition of Sugar Mas in St. Kitts and Nevis, whose theme was “Fun, Vibe, Energy: Sugar Mas 50”, all participants, sponsors, vendors and others people associated with the events had to be fully vaccinated and wear masks. After being entirely virtual in 2020, shows such as the Soca Monarch Contest, National Carnival Queen Contest and National Carnival Swimwear Contest were allowed under strict protocol with audience attendance at 75% of the venue’s capacity. J’Ouvert (morning parade) did not take place in the streets of the capital Basseterre but in a confined space, last December 27…
The carnival of Guadeloupe is a street carnival and all the elections or various parties in closed places do not exist anymore. It is therefore impossible to adopt the same measures that our Caribbean neighbors have. Alternatively, there is still “Mass en Folie” at Baie-Mahault’s velodrome to let off steam but its format is already ignored by many groups and we don’t know how many revelers are fully vaccinated…
