Sandy Ground: attacked, pelted with stones and robbed in the street
On Sunday 19 April, a motorist claims to have been attacked by a gang of youths on motocross bikes and scooters, before being injured and robbed of his vehicle. Exasperated, he has appealed directly to the authorities.
At around 6 pm, on the road out of Sandy Ground towards Terres-Basses, a man claims to have been the “victim of a gang of thugs”. Whilst driving, a large motocross bike with no number plate or lights, ridden by a driver without a helmet, ripped off his wing mirror. As the victim got out to retrieve the debris, several scooters gathered around him. The situation quickly escalated. The man tried to call the police, but explained that he had been attacked by several individuals who tore his T-shirt and then his shorts in an attempt to steal his phone. He was then hit by several stones in the back, as well as on his hand, resulting in a broken finger. His phone was also destroyed and his vehicle stolen.
A neighbour who witnessed the scene handed him a phone so he could call for help. Three gendarmes intervened, but they too were pelted with stones and forced to leave. Firefighters also arrived at the scene of the altercation and took the victim to hospital. The vehicle was later recovered by the police and a complaint was filed.
“We live in a lawless area”
The victim denounces a “lawless zone” in Sandy Ground. “The violence never stops. We are facing a hostage situation where the entire population is being held captive by a gang of thugs,” she says, referring to weapons, trafficking and the absence of the authorities. The man then calls for action from the prefect; he demands the return of community policing and even the intervention of the Guadeloupe GIGN. “This is no longer the Friendly Island, it’s the Terrible Island,” he says bitterly. When contacted, the prefecture did not respond to our enquiries.
