After receiving a letter and commitments from the Prime Minister, elected officials in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, Guyana, have ended their protest movement against insecurity, the city’s mayor told reporters on Thursday, October 17. France Agency. -Press. “The movement in its current form is over.”argued Sophie Charles.
According to the councilor, Michel Barnier promised in particular to send a mobile gendarmerie squad. “within fifteen days”in a letter to local elected officials in response to their demands. “This is not about real additional reinforcements, but rather the return of personnel previously stationed in Guyana”specifies the town hall of the city, located in western Guyana and separated from Suriname by the Maroni River.
For a week now, the elected officials of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni have been taking turns holding a sit-in in front of the sub-prefecture, as a protest, to demand drastic measures against crime. The city, which officially has 50,000 residents (but 80,000 according to elected officials), is characterized by an increase in crime. The latest attack dates back to last weekend, when border police officers were attacked by gunfire, without causing any injuries.
Currently the municipality has “170 gendarmes and 50 border police”the prefect of Guyana, Antoine Poussier, told Agence France-Presse (AFP). Measures have been taken, he adds, highlighting the collaboration of French and Surinamese law enforcement forces in the fight against crime.
However, the roadside checkpoint at the entrance to Saint-Laurent remains, considered ineffective by elected officials. “Protect Saint-Laurent and the rest of Guyana”Poussier tells AFP. According to him, thanks to these controls, nearly 700 people registered in the wanted persons file were intercepted.
