Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni
Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni | |
---|---|
Subprefecture and commune | |
Coordinates: 5°29′58″N 54°01′52″W / 5.4994°N 54.0311°W | |
Country | France |
Overseas region and department | French Guiana |
Arrondissement | Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni |
Intercommunality | Ouest Guyanais |
Government | |
• Mayor (2020–2026) | Sophie Charles[1] (DVD) |
Area 1 | 4,830 km2 (1,860 sq mi) |
Population (2021)[2] | 50,250 |
• Density | 10/km2 (27/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC−03:00 |
INSEE/Postal code | 97311 /97320 |
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. |
Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni (French pronunciation:
History
Founded in 1858 by Auguste Baudin,[4] it was formerly the arrival point for prisoners, who arrived at the Camp de la Transportation.[5]
When Gaston Monnerville was elected Deputy in 1932, he tried to close the prison complex. On 17 June 1938, the prison was repealed, but the final closure did not come until 1946.[7] On 9 November 1949, Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni became a regular commune.[4]
Geography
Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni is a border town in north-west French Guiana. It is located on the
The ethnic composition of the town is, as everywhere in French Guiana, diverse:
.Maroons will mostly be found in the neighbourhoods called
Demographics
Historical population
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Source: SPLAF,[11] INSEE,[3] Brasseur[12] |
Migrations
The places of birth of the 43,600 residents in the commune of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni at the 2015 census were the following:[13]
- 64.1% were born in French Guiana
- 5.3% in Metropolitan France
- 0.9% in Martinique
- 0.5% in Guadeloupe
- 0.2% in other parts of Overseas France
- 29.0% in foreign countries (notably Suriname, followed by Brazil and to a lesser extent Haiti); among these, 28.4% were immigrants and 0.7% were children of French citizens born abroad
These were the countries of birth of the immigrants living in the commune of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni at the 2009 census:[14]
- born in Suriname: 7,631
- born in Brazil: 3,105
- born in Haiti: 1,199
- born in Guyana: 327
- born in other countries: 530
Environment
This river town has long been the headquarters of an important association for the protection of the environment: "Le pou d'agouti" (an environmental organisation named after an annoying local mite with an itchy bite[15] which strives for the protection of local and regional fauna and flora.
It is also the point of departure for several ecotourism circuits, most notably journeys upriver to explore the many creeks as well as the Amazonian rainforest; tourists can spend a night in the jungle in huts or tents. Another possibility is visiting the Voltaire Falls, situated 70 km (43 mi) upriver.[16]
Industrial activities, slowly increasing
Transport
Between 1890 and 1897, a 16 kilometre
Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni can be accessed chiefly by road, the Route Nationale 1, from Cayenne. A new port was recently built on the Maroni, but currently lacks proper wharf infrastructure and sufficient river depth. The Saint-Maurice airfield was decommissioned in 1946, but is used for sports.[19] The Saint-Jean road links Saint-Laurent to Saint-Jean-du-Maroni and the military base there.
In 2010, Route Nationale opened connecting Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni starting from the Plateau des Mines to
The town is also an important port of departure for those going inland via pirogue or to Albina in Suriname by ferry or pirogue.[22]
The town's Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni Airport is served by Air Guyane Express.
Economy
The sugarcane fields near town produce "La Belle Cabresse" rum (as well as the less well-known "La Cayennaise" and "Cœur de Chauffe") for the Saint Maurice rum company.[23] The rum is 50 to 55% proof and of high quality.
On the road to
Two military units are stationed at St-Jean's Camp Némo: the Groupement du service militaire adapté (GSMA), which is part of the
Sights
Originally built by, and for, the French department of corrections or Administration Pénitentiaire, many old official buildings in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni bear a distinctive architectural style, a unique mix of colonial style and penitentiary architecture.[4] Bricks made from the local red clay were used by the convicts, who provided a free and never-ending workforce, to build a whole official and administrative district, starting with the main jailhouse itself, the Camp de la Transportation.[5]
Some of the main buildings in the old administrative district, locally called Le Petit Paris for its alleged reminiscence of a 19th-century French architecture:
- Le Camp de la Transportation (guided tours available, famous for Henri 'Papillon' Charrière's cell) and the adjacent Office du Tourisme;
- La Résidence du Gouverneur du bagne, today's residence of the sous-préfet, and formerly the governor's residence;
- Le Tribunal maritime, today's sous-préfecture;
- La Mairie (city hall) and the former bank;
- St. Lawrence Church;
- Le Trésor public;
- L'Hôtel La Tentiaire;
- La caserne Joffre (the Gendarmerie HQ);
- André-Bouron Hospital (It was in use until September 2018).[27]
Most of these buildings are located on Avenue De Gaulle, Avenue Lieutenant-Colonel Tourtet and the Boulevard Mallouet. After the jailhouse was closed and the penal authority left in the early 1950s, these buildings suffered from lack of maintenance and interest, and were much damaged due to the harsh weather conditions in western French Guiana. Close to a state of total ruin, they underwent a major restoration in the early 80s, after the city council and French
Other notable sights from the penitentiary years include Saint-Jean-du-Maroni, formerly the Camp de la Relégation and today's main military HQ for western French Guiana. There is also a small island in the middle of the Maroni River which used to house the prisoners affected with leprosy. Papillon wrote about hiding there during one of his daring escapes.[30]
Notable sights not related to the prisons:
- La Charbonnière: Maroon village founded by refugees from Suriname's civil war.[31]
There are many hotels in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, including the Auberge Bois Diable, Chez Julienne, Hôtel la Tentiaire, Le Relais des 3 Lacs and Star Hôtel.
Climate
Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni features an equatorial climate that is a
Climate data for Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 28 (82) |
28 (82) |
28 (83) |
28 (83) |
28 (83) |
28 (83) |
29 (84) |
30 (86) |
31 (87) |
31 (87) |
29 (85) |
28 (83) |
29 (84) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 24 (75) |
24 (75) |
24 (76) |
24 (76) |
24 (76) |
24 (75) |
24 (75) |
24 (76) |
24 (76) |
24 (76) |
24 (75) |
24 (75) |
24 (75) |
Average rainfall mm (inches) | 260 (10.3) |
180 (7.1) |
190 (7.6) |
240 (9.5) |
350 (13.6) |
330 (13) |
250 (9.7) |
170 (6.8) |
110 (4.5) |
100 (4) |
160 (6.3) |
250 (9.7) |
2,590 (102.1) |
Source: Weatherbase [33] |
Notable people
- Lénaïck Adam (1992), politician.[34]
- Léon Bertrand (1951), politician and mayor.[35]
- Raoul Diagne (1910–2002), footballer.[36]
- Oriane Jean-François (2001), footballer.[37]
- Florian Jozefzoon (1991), footballer.[38]
- Stéphane Martine (1978), footballer.[39]
- Raymond Tarcy (1936–2019), politician and senator.[40]
References in popular culture
Somerset Maugham's short-story, "A Man with a Conscience" is set in St. Laurent de Maroni. As Maugham describes the town: “St Laurent de Maroni is a pretty little place. It is neat and clean. It has an Hotel de Ville and a Palais de Justice of which many a town in France would be proud. The streets are wide, and the fine trees that border them give a grateful shade. The houses look as though they had just had a coat of paint. Many of them nestle in little gardens, and in the gardens are palm trees and flame of the forest; cannas flaunt their bright colours and crotons their variety; the bougainvilleas, purple or red, riot profusely, and the elegant hibiscus offers its gorgeous flowers with a negligence that seems almost affected. St Laurent de Maroni is the centre of the French penal settlement of Guiana, and a hundred yards from the quay at which you land is the great gateway of the prison camp. These pretty little houses in their tropical gardens are the residence of the prison officials, and if the streets are neat and clean it is because there is no lack of convicts to keep them so."[41]
Maugham's short story "An Official Position" is also set in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni. Both stories first appeared in book form in the collection
- When a man is sentenced to death the sentence has to be confirmed by the minister in Paris. No execution takes place on Sunday. If two or more are to be guillotined at the same time the least guilty is executed first so that he should not suffer the added horror of seeing his mates die. The convict does not know that he will be executed till the warder comes in with the words: Have courage, etc. When there are executions the other convicts are depressed and nervous, and they go about their work sullen and silent.
- When the head has fallen the executioner takes it up by the ears and shows it to the bystanders, saying: Au nom du people francais justice est faite. At the side of the guillotine is a large wicker basket covered with some black material and into this the body is put. The knife falls with lightning speed and the blood spurts over the executioner. He is given a set of new clothes after each execution.[42]
Villages
- Balaté, an Lokono village near Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni
- Espérance, a Kalina village near Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni
- Île Portal, an island in the Maroni River
- Saint-Jean-du-Maroni, a village in the commune of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni
See also
- Communes of French Guiana
- Lucifer Dékou-Dékou Biological Reserve, a wilderness area in the commune
References
- ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 13 September 2022.
- ^ "Populations légales 2021". The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
- ^ a b INSEE (2024-01-20). "Séries historiques de population (1876 à 2021) - Communes" (in French).
- ^ a b c d "Historique de Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni". 97320.com (in French). Retrieved 7 June 2020.
- ^ a b "BAGNE DE SAINT-LAURENT-DU-MARONI - CAMP DE LA TRANSPORTATION". Petit Futé (in French). Retrieved 7 June 2020.
- ^ a b "Guide Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni". Petit Futé (in French). Retrieved 7 June 2020.
- ^ a b c "Saint-Laurent du Maroni, Histoire d'une commune". Fier de Tre Guyanais (in French). 16 September 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
- ^ "Annonce Ferry Albina - St. Laurent du Maroni MARS 14 et 15,2020". AmbaFrance (in French). Retrieved 7 June 2020.
- ^ "Traditional Wayana Crafts : part of humanity's heritage to be protected". Guianas Geographic (in French). Retrieved 7 June 2020.
- ^ "Pluralité linguistique en Guyane : un aperçu". Research Gate (in French). Retrieved 7 June 2020.
- ^ SPLAF. "Agglomérations et villes de la Guyane". Retrieved 12 April 2021.
- ^ La Guyane française, page 33, Gérard Brasseur
- INSEE. Retrieved 2019-02-03.
- INSEE. Retrieved 2019-02-03.
- ^ "Pou d'Agouti Guyanne française forêt tropicale humide".
- ^ "Cascades et crique Voltaire". Inventaire National du Patrimoine Naturel (in French). Retrieved 23 March 2021.
- PMID 23483926.
- ^ "Prison Railways in French Guiana, 2014". International Steam. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
- ^ "Aérodrome Saint Maurice, Piste d'aérodrome / d'aéroport à Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni". Web Villes (in French). Retrieved 7 June 2020.
- ^ "La route d'Apatou raccommodée". Guyane la Première (in French). Retrieved 6 June 2020.
- ^ "Route Maripasoula-Papaichton : 1 million d'euros par kilomètre". France Guyane (in French). Retrieved 10 August 2020.
- ^ "Distrikt Marowijne". Suriname.nu (in Dutch). Retrieved 3 June 2020.
- ^ "LES RHUMS GUYANAIS". Marque Alcool (in French). Retrieved 7 June 2020.
- ^ "Le camp de la relégation de Saint-Jean-du-Maroni". Crimino Corpus (in French). Retrieved 7 June 2020.
- ^ "Mana". Guyane Guide (in French). Retrieved 18 February 2021.
- ^ "Qui sommes-nous?". RSMA Guyane.fr (in French). Retrieved 31 May 2020.
- ^ "Le nouveau Centre Hospitalier de Saint-Laurent ouvre ses portes le 27 septembre". France TV Info (in French). Retrieved 23 May 2021.
- ^ Base Mérimée: Search for heritage in the commune, Ministère français de la Culture. (in French)
- ^ Base Mérimée: Ancien centre pénitentiaire dit Camp de la Transportation, Ministère français de la Culture. (in French)
- ^ "ÎLE AUX LÉPREUX". Petit Fute (in French). Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- ^ "Brochure VPAH slm charbonnière". Saint Laurent du Maroni (in French and Sranan Tongo). Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- ^ Masters, Jeff; Henson, Bob (18 January 2017). "Confirmed: 2016 the Warmest Year in History of Global Recordkeeping". Wunderground. Archived from the original on 7 May 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
- ^ "Weatherbase: Historical Weather for St.-Laurent du Maroni, French Guiana". Weatherbase. 2011. Retrieved on November 24, 2011.
- ^ "A 25 ans, Lénaïck Adam est le nouveau député "En Marche" en Guyane". France TV Info (in French). Retrieved 7 March 2021.
- ^ "Léon BERTRAND, un Maire poumon de sa commune". Saint Laurent du Maroni (in French). Retrieved 7 March 2021.
- ^ "1931 : Diagne, un noir chez les Bleus". Republicain Lorrain (in French). Retrieved 7 March 2021.
- ^ "La championne guyanaise Oriane Jean-François honorée à Saint-Laurent du Maroni". Collectivé Territoriale de Guyane (in French). Retrieved 7 March 2021.
- ^ "Florian Jozefzoon". Soccer Base. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
- ^ "Stéphane Martine". Play Maker Stats. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
- ^ "TARCY Raymond". French Senate (in French). Retrieved 7 March 2021.
- ^ Maugham, William Somerset. Collected Short Stories. Vol. 4. ASIN 0099428865.
- ^ Somerset Maugham, A Writer's Notebook, Mandarin, 1991, p. 240.