More fear than harm for Gérald Darmanin: during a visit of a little over twenty-four hours to Guadeloupe, the Minister of the Interior and Overseas Territories was roughed up by a young man, Thursday 18 April, in the premises of the public channel Guadeloupe La 1time, in Baie-Mahault, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP) and local radio RCI. The individual, aged around twenty, “grabbed sharply” The Minister “by the arm and shoulders before being subdued” by its security team, indicates AFP. The attacker was then taken into custody at the Baie-Mahault gendarmerie.
Mr. Darmanin, who was not injured during this incident, was able to record his television interview as planned, during which he returned to the main theme of his trip to this West Indian department: security.
The day before, in the streets of Pointe-à-Pitre, he had announced the establishment of a curfew for minors from 8 p.m. in this sub-prefecture of 14,500 inhabitants, in the grip of a resurgence of delinquency. The measure, which should take effect from Monday April 22, is introduced for a period of two months. “Minors are extremely numerous in delinquency, unfortunately, in Guadeloupe in general and in Pointe-à-Pitre in particular”deplored Mr. Darmanin, during an anti-drug operation “Place net XXL”, in the company of Marie Guévenoux, the delegate minister responsible for overseas territories, and several Guadeloupean parliamentarians and local elected officials. “Minors under the age of 18 will not be able to circulate in the streets of Pointe-à-Pitre after 8 p.m., and the national police will apply these requests to the letter”he added.
“Guerrilla” situation
In recent months, several news items have stained the streets of Pointe-à-Pitre with blood and caused turmoil throughout the department. On March 20, four people were injured, two of them seriously, during a succession of stabbing attacks, in broad daylight, on the public highway, by an unbalanced 30-year-old woman. The following Sunday, Harry Durimel, the mayor of the town, announced his intention to “put the apron back on”in a voice message broadcast on social networks. “Pointe-à-Pitre, as it stands, is a cutthroat. Without law enforcement up to the challenges”lamented the elected environmentalist, ulcerated by a situation of “guerrilla” in his city.
In 2023, 12% of delinquency committed in the police zone, which includes Pointe-à-Pitre and the neighboring commune of Abymes, “were attributable to minors”indicates to World Mr. Durimel, citing from memory figures communicated by the courts during a press conference organized in mid-March. “Today, it’s 38%”is moved by the Pointois councilor, who ultimately did not carry out his threat to resign. “There is a problem of parental responsibility. That is why [le conseil municipal] proposed to the minister to establish a curfew for minors, after 8 p.m., so that these young people stay with their families and do their school homework”adds Mr. Durimel, who also calls for video surveillance cameras and more resources to ensure prevention and integration. “Minors in the 14-17 age group” are frequently prosecuted in court for “robbery with a weapon, violence with a weapon”adds Caroline Calbo, the public prosecutor of Pointe-à-Pitre.
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