Ouanary, more landlocked than ever and prey to insecurity! On November 1, the town located at the mouth of the Oyapock was the victim of the theft of the gangway of its arrival and departure wharf. In October, two canoes were stolen, including a municipal canoe. Residents point the finger at the numerous illegal fishermen in the area.
Laurent MAROT and Tierry VIVIES, with L.LEWIS • Published on November 13, 2023 at 4:16 p.m., updated on November 13, 2023 at 6:40 p.m.
Heading for Ouanary, 1h30 by canoe from Saint-Georges, in the mouth of the Oyapock, facing Brazil. On board a boat, angry deputy mayors. To understand, you have to go up the Ouanary river to the arrival point of the canoes in the town of the commune.
During the night of November 1st to 2nd, the access gangway to the wharf disappeared. There is a large gap, where there was an inclined walkway which allowed you to pass safely from the floating pontoon to the metal jetty. Elected officials suspect illegal Brazilian fishermen.
He was coming home at high speed, I asked him to turn around. So he came close and said that eventually, he’s just going to dock here. I told him no, that he had no right to moor here, so to leave. Dissatisfied, he left again and in the night, no more footbridge.
Alain MESMIN, 1st deputy mayor of Ouanary
In place of this gap, between the Ouanary wharf and the floating pontoon, there was a large footbridge which was stolen during the night of November 1st to 2nd. • ©Laurent Marot
Another incident. On October 6, after an altercation between the mayor and a Brazilian illegal, a town canoe and another belonging to the mayor were stolen.
The presence of illegal fishermen, a long-standing problem. According to the 1st deputy, Brazilian fishermen often go to Ouanary to fishand this with non-regulatory nets.
The access staircase to the pontoon is out of use at the moment. To get to the town, the Ouanarais must now wait for high tide or, when there is enough water, slide by boat over the mud to the landing stage.
We dock in very unsafe conditions with real risks for people, whether they are elderly or not.
Jérôme LABA, 2nd deputy mayor of Ouanary
Alain MESMIN and Jérôme LABA, respectively first and second deputies to the mayor of Ouanary • ©Laurent Marot
The town of Ouanary is connected to the river by an 800 meter dike. There is also a canal, which light canoes can use at high tide.. Due to siltation, heavier boats do not pass.
The path on the 800 meter dike which provides access to the town of Ouanary • ©Laurent Marot
To make matters worse, the other town hall canoe stolen on October 6 had just been put into service for the transport of the Ouanarais. Without public means, residents travel to Saint-Georges at their own expense… 500 euros to charter a private carrier (round trip). The other solution is to have your own canoe… when it’s not stolen. This is what happened to Gérard five years ago.
The canoe is like our car here. We need it to go to Saint-Georges […] I worked for a whole year (to acquire his canoe, Editor’s note) and in a short space of time, you lose all that. So it’s hard.
Gérard BORDES, resident of Ouanary
Gérard suspects clandestine gold prospectors, present upstream of the Ouanary. The town has nearly 80 inhabitants, including those who come and go from the coast. Everyone is waiting for help.
That day, a group of visitors came to spend the weekend there, arriving at high tide. Ouanary, a commune with a tourist and agricultural vocation, but to carry out its sustainable development project, the municipality demands security and opening up.
2023-11-14 01:16:25
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