In Guyana, elected officials from Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni end their protest movement after commitments from Michel Barnier

After receiving a letter and commitments from the Prime Minister, the elected officials of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, in Guyana, put an end to their protest movement against insecurity, said Thursday, October 17, the mayor of the city to Agence France-Presse. “The movement is over in its current form”argued Sophie Charles.

According to the councilor, Michel Barnier notably promised to send a squadron of mobile gendarmerie “within fifteen days”in a letter addressed to local elected officials in response to their demands. “This is not real additional reinforcements, but a 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, the elected officials of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni have taken turns at a sit-in set up in front of the sub-prefecture, as a protest, to demand drastic measures against delinquency. The city, which officially has 50,000 inhabitants – but 80,000 according to elected officials – is marked by increasing crime. The latest attack dates back to last weekend, when border police agents were shot at, without causing any injuries.

The municipality currently has “170 gendarmes and 50 border police”specified the prefect of Guyana, Antoine Poussier, to Agence France-Presse (AFP). Measures have been taken, he adds, emphasizing the collaboration of French and Surinamese law enforcement in the fight against crime.

The road checkpoint at the entrance to Saint-Laurent, considered ineffective by elected officials, is however maintained. “It protects Saint-Laurent as well as the rest of Guyana”says Mr. Poussier to AFP. According to him, nearly 700 people registered in the wanted persons file were intercepted thanks to these checks.