Residents of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni share their wishes for 2025
Cinema, security, cleanliness: at the dawn of this new year, residents are expressing their expectations for a more modern and dynamic city. Between major issues and specific needs, their testimonies paint a sincere portrait of the city.
At the start of the year, the inhabitants of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni shared their aspirations for the development of their city. The testimonies collected during a sidewalk microphone reveal major concerns, but also more specific needs which reflect the diversity of expectations.
How can a city that organizes an international documentary film festival every year not have a movie theater?
Seskia asks, highlighting a striking paradox. With more than 60,000 inhabitants, Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni remains deprived of a place where families and friends could gather to share cultural moments.
The absence of this infrastructure also prevents part of the population from taking full advantage of the local cultural offering. A cinema would represent much more than equipment, it would strengthen the social and cultural life of the city.
confides Bejana, who has already been a victim of theft. The feeling of insecurity is omnipresent, whether on the streets or in public places.
This reality limits their movements and hinders their development, in a city where they nevertheless wish to evolve freely. For them, security must become an absolute priority for local authorities in 2025.
In certain neighborhoods, such as Lac Bleu and “Les Vampires,” waste management remains a glaring problem. Janine deplores the deposits of bulky items and household waste left abandoned on the sidewalks: “Every resident seems to have their personal deposit outside their door. »
According to some residents interviewed, this waste poses hygiene and safety problems, particularly for children. Better management of bulky waste, combined with awareness campaigns, would be a first step towards a cleaner and more pleasant city to live in.
Beyond these major issues, other residents expressed specific expectations to enrich life in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni:
Valérie highlights the urgency of developing a reliable public transport network. “As soon as we have a car breakdown, we are stuck,” she explains, regretting the total dependence on the automobile.
Mehdi, an amateur breeder, deplores the lack of stores offering livestock feed:
These places would make it possible to forge links between the different cultures of the city
he adds, recalling that Saint-Laurent is a multicultural city.
Wilda emphasizes the insufficiency of fuel stations: “Two stations for a city of this size are not enough. »
Jion, for his part, deplores the state of the roads and the absence of sidewalks on certain major avenues. “The potholes in my neighborhood are unbearable. A little maintenance wouldn't be too much for this year. »
Finally, Charles draws attention to the historic Chinese Village district, one of the oldest in the city. “At the time, we bought fish directly from the banks. Today, we buy on the run, in refrigerators. It would be nice to develop this part of the bank and open a real fishmonger. » A suggestion which highlights a paradox for a city located on the banks of the river.
A future to build together
Between infrastructure, culture, security and specific needs, residents' wishes paint a portrait of a city full of potential, but still marked by significant gaps. These testimonies resonate as a call to action to make 2025 a year of concrete and shared progress.
