France’s plan to construct a new prison wing near the historical site of Devil’s Island has sparked significant public outcry. The proposal, aimed at addressing rising organized crime in French Guiana, raises concerns about its proximity to a location steeped in dark history. Devil’s Island, once a notorious penal colony, operated for nearly a century and is infamous for housing political prisoners, including Captain Alfred Dreyfus, who was falsely accused of espionage.
Situated 7 miles off the coast of French Guiana, Devil’s Island quickly became a symbol of injustice and colonial oppression. It was made even more infamous by the hugely popular novel Papillon, which detailed the nightmarish experiences of one prisoner in the island’s prisons. The popular story was eventually adapted into two films. This largely cemented the island’s place in America’s popular culture as an enslavement site and a place of escape and suffering.
Jean-Victor Castor, the top local politician and development minister, protested the government’s decision. He blasted their proposal to put a new prison wing so near the island. He stated, “It’s an insult to our history, a political provocation and a colonial regression.” His remarks underscore the community’s sensitivity surrounding the historical implications of using Devil’s Island as a reference point for modern incarceration.
Napoleon III first used the island during the 1800s to house convicts. Most of the convicts dispatched to Devil’s Island were eventually given reassignment to other sites. The legacy of Devil’s Island still remains, a legacy filled with brutality and human rights violations. The historical context adds a new layer of complication to the current debate over how to best manage crime in the fast-changing region.
Local law enforcement are exasperated by this unexpected increase in crime. They have been demanding a strong response to organized criminal enterprise. Jean-Paul Ferreira, another local elected official, highlighted the community’s stance: “While all local elected officials have long been calling for strong measures to curb the rise of organized crime in our territory, Guiana is not meant to welcome criminals and radicalised people from mainland France.”
French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin responded to criticism as well, recognizing the growing dominance of drug trafficking networks in the region. He said, “We need to respond,” underlining the urgency that both advocates and law enforcement leaders say is needed by authorities to meet the surging wave of illegal activity.
As the government prepares to implement its plans, many of them are still worried about what all this means for their community. They are understandably scared that locating a prison of all things near such a historically heavy site could risk perpetuating the harm, rather than being a healing force.