Île Portal

Île Portal is an island in the Maroni River in the commune of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, French Guiana.[3] The island measures 27 km2[1]

Île Portal
Island
Île Portal is located in French Guiana
Île Portal
Île Portal
Location in French Guiana
Coordinates: 5.4056°N 54.1084°W / 5.4056; -54.1084
CountryFrance
Overseas regionFrench Guiana
ArrondissementSaint-Laurent-du-Maroni
CommuneSaint-Laurent-du-Maroni
Area
[1]
 • Total27 km2 (10 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[2]
 • Total124
 • Density4.6/km2 (12/sq mi)

History

In 1852, Constant Bar started a plantation on the island to produce coffee, sugar and wood. The workforce consisted of African and East-Indian immigrants, and French convicts from the penal colony.[4] In 1878, the island was visited by the explorer Jules Crevaux who noted that four brothers were operating the plantation.[5] In the early 20th century, the island was bought by Talon who started a distillery on the island. In 1964, the distillery and the buildings burnt down in a fire.[4]

Indigenous inhabitants

About 200 Kalina Amerindians used to live on the island. In the late 1970s, the island was bought[6] by SCI de Provence,[7] a real estate company, who wanted the Amerindians off their land.[6] In 1981, they were told to leave the island, and resettle in Espérance.[8]

In 1983, the Prefecture of French Guiana refused to forcibly remove the remaining population of the island. SCI de Provence has sued the State for damages.[7] In 2011, there were still 124 people living on the island.[2] As of 2018, there are little camps along the river. There is no school on the island, and the children have to take a pirogue to the mainland followed by a bus to Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni.[3] As of 2019, SCI de Provence is still in litigation.[9]

References
  1. G. Sieffermann (1955). Etude pédologique de reconnaissance de l'Île Portal (PDF) (in French). p. 2.
  2. "Le sort des habitants de l'île Portal entre les mains du Conseil d'État". France Guyane (in French). Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  3. "Les enfants de l'île Portal". Media Part (in French). Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  4. "Le Patrimoine dans tous ses Etats" (PDF) (in French). Ville de Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni. September 2017. p. 8. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  5. "Par m. Jules crevaux, medecin de premiere classe de la marine francaise". m-20-bal (in French). Retrieved 7 March 2021. Crevaux used the surname Bard and not Bar
  6. P. F. Grenand and P. Menget (1985). "La question amérindien en Guyane française" (PDF). Ethies (in French). Vol. 1. p. 55. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  7. "Conseil d'Etat, 10 / 9 SSR, du 16 février 2000, 147948, mentionné aux tables du recueil Lebon". Légifrance (in French). Retrieved 7 March 2021. Legal document from 2000 which states that SCI de Provence owns the whole island
  8. Odile Renault-Lescuie (1985). "La question amérindien en Guyane française" (PDF). Ethies (in French). Vol. 1. p. 20. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  9. "Conseil d'État, 5ème chambre, 20 mars 2019, 420123, Inédit au recueil Lebon". Doctrine.fr (in French). Retrieved 7 March 2021.
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