Providence, French Guiana
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Providence | |
|---|---|
Village | |
  Providence Location in French Guiana | |
| Coordinates: 4°37′07″N 54°24′50″W / 4.6186°N 54.4139°W | |
| Country | France |
| Overseas region | French Guiana |
| Arrondissement | Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni |
| Commune | Apatou |
Providence is a village of Paramacca Maroons[1] in the commune of Apatou at the confluence of the Maroni River and the Beïman Creek[2] in French Guiana.
The village can only be accessed by boat via the Maroni River, and is located about three hours south of Apatou.[3] The children in Providence and the nearby islands used to go to school in Stoelmanseiland, however the Surinamese Interior War (1986-1992) caused the closure of the school, leaving about 300 children in the region without access to education.[4] In 2012, a school was constructed in the village.[5]
In 1991, gold was discovered in the Beïman Creek near the village. The main concession is the Esperance Gold Mine which is being exploited by Newmont,[2] however the discovery has attracted garimpeiros (illegal gold miners) to the region.[6] In 2017, the French Development Agency started a project to provide the village with clean drinking water.[3]
