A health and administrative scandal has erupted in Guadeloupe. Dozens of bodies of people described as "indigent," including 22 children, have not been buried for several years. An investigation is underway to shed light on these events.
According to multiple sources, law enforcement seized approximately twenty bodies from the mortuaries of a funeral home located in Le Gosier and Sainte-Anne. The bodies were transferred to other facilities for better preservation. Three days after the operation, a strong odor of decomposition was noticeable at one of the sites.
Meanwhile, at the University Hospital Center (CHU) of Guadeloupe in Les Abymes, 31 other bodies (22 children, seven men, and two women) remain awaiting burial. The deaths occurred between 2017 and 2025. The oldest body is that of a young boy who died in 2017.
An alert dating back to October 2025
In a decree published on February 24, the prefecture stated that it had been alerted on October 31, 2025, by the management of the University Hospital (CHU) regarding the storage conditions of certain unclaimed bodies. Faced with the lack of burial permits issued by the Abymes town hall, citing a lack of space in the cemetery, the prefecture authorized the cremation of the 31 remains, beyond the legal 14-day period.
The university hospital (CHU) stated in a press release that it has implemented "temporary preservation solutions" to avoid any infringement on human dignity and any overload of mortuary capacity. The hospital indicated that it has contacted local authorities and the relevant judicial bodies, and has entered into agreements with funeral homes.
The Pointe-à-Pitre prosecutor's office has not commented at this stage, but a source close to the case confirms that an investigation is underway. The municipality of Les Abymes did not respond to requests for comment.
