President Macron visits Maripasula

PARAMARBIO/MARIPASULA – French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday visited Maripasula shortly after having arrived in French Guyana. Maripasula which is located along the border with Suriname is reportedly being plagued by illegal gold mining activities and a constant flow of Surinamese migrants.

One noticeable fact is that Surinamese legislators ratified a border agreement with France two days prior to President Macron’s arrival in French Guyana. The border agreement gives police forces from both countries the authority to enter each other’s territory within a 2 kilometer radius from the border. Macron reportedly met with the gendarmerie and French army units that battle the illegal gold mining activities.

He also had a meeting with the central government and village chiefs to discuss the illegal activities on French soil. Macron is also scheduled to hold talks with government officials in the capital, Cayenne. The French president reportedly did not receive a warm welcome from all the people.

A protest rally was held in Cayenne during his visit to Maripasula. The mayors refused to welcome the head of state at the airport and have also cancelled their appointments for a dinner and work meeting with the president. France still has not given its overseas territory a financial injection of several billions in order to address the crisis but the members of the presidential delegation were reportedly given a circular with certain tips.

This circular was deemed insulting by the local communities. The members of the presidential delegation were told not to drink from the tap, to use a condom and to protect themselves against the Zika virus. The local communities also took offense at Macron’s claim that French Guyana is an island.