French Guiana officials oppose high-security prison plan

Plans to build a high-security prison wing for drug traffickers and inmates classified as Islamic militants by authorities in French Guiana have sparked strong opposition from local leaders and residents, The Guardian reported. The facility, part of a $450 million project announced in 2017, is scheduled for completion in 2028 in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, a town near the Suriname border and historically associated with France’s penal colony system.

French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin announced during a visit to the region that the prison will include a special wing with 60 spaces, 15 reserved for inmates classified as Islamic militants by authorities. He said the aim is to isolate high-risk individuals from criminal networks.

Although the broader project was originally intended to ease overcrowding in local prisons, regional officials say they were not consulted about the high-security wing. Jean-Paul Fereira, acting president of French Guiana’s territorial collective, and MP Jean-Victor Castor condemned the decision as disrespectful and politically provocative.

Critics argue the move revives painful colonial associations and raises concerns about transferring inmates from mainland France. They have urged the French government to reconsider the plan, warning that it undermines local governance and community trust. The justice ministry has not yet responded to the criticism.