French Guiana paralysed by general strike

Protests over crime rates and cost of living have
propelled overseas territory into spotlight of
French elections.

Parts of French Guiana, including schools and shops, were
shut down on Monday, amid a general strike over high 
crime rates, the cost of living and lack of public services.

The French government appealed for calm in its South
American territory, which has been gripped by protests
 that have halted flights, disrupted a rocket launch and prompted travel warnings since late last month.

"The first priority is the fight against insecurity," French
President Francois Hollande said.

More than 30 labour unions launched the strike, demanding 
a"Marshall Plan" to improve public services and security.

The territory, home to about 250,000 people, relies on large
injections of public funds and residents say it is often
overlooked by the French government.

"This has gone on long enough! All we have is plundered, 
it's time to recognise the people of Guiana," a woman at a
barricade blocking access to the airport in the capital Cayenne
told AFP news agency on Sunday.

Antoine Karma, Guiana's representative to the French senate
in Paris, said those in the territory are without basic social
services and goods.

"Today, 30 percent of the population still does not have
access to drinking water or electricity," Karma told
 French media on Monday.

"We are not treated the same way as the French on the
French mainland," the socialist party politician said.

French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said a delegation 
of ministers would be sent to Guiana by the end of the week 
if certain conditions were met. He did not elaborate on what
those conditions were.

The French government had previously sent a delegation to
negotiate with protesters, but many refused to meet the

officials, demanding that French ministers come instead.

Campaign issue

With less than four weeks until the first round of the French
presidential election, the unrest in Guiana has been
 highlighted by several top candidates.

Marine Le Pen, the far-right leader, condemned what she
called a "cruel minimum service" delivered by French
governments to the territory. She also blamed "mass
immigration" for insecurity, according to local media.

Independent centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron, who
 just completed a tour of France's overseas territories,
 called for calm, saying the situation was "serious". He was later mocked for calling the overseas territory an island, which it is not.

Conservative candidate Francois Fillon blamed the 
situation on"the failed policies of Francois Hollande".

The unions part of the strike have called for a complete
shutdown of activity on Tuesday, according to the France-
Guyane newspaper.

Air France and Air Caraibes cancelled all flights into 
Guiana and schools and universities were closed.

The protests also led to the postponement of an Arianespace

rocket launch at Europe's Guiana Space Centre in Kourou.

Barricades were briefly lifted on Sunday to allow some
residents to stock up on food and other supplies before the
strike began.

Similar unrest gripped French Guiana in 2008 over soaring 
fuel prices. Schools and the airport were shut down.

The strike ended after 11 days, when the government 
agreed to cut fuel prices.