ANNAMITE PRISON - CAMP CRIQUE EEL CREEK

The history of this penitentiary is relatively poorly described in Guyanese literature, with frequent contradictions. The establishment was set up in 1931 to deport Indochinese nationals guilty of crimes or who had been too vocal in their pro-independence intentions. The majority of these prisoners came from the Annam region in central Vietnam, which explains the camp's name.

The prison operated until 1938, but for most of the deportees, the journey to French Guiana was a one-way trip. Constantly on the lookout for workers, the colonial authorities hoped that the released prisoners would stay on to develop the land. When this became a compulsory rule, the prisoners revolted violently, but their insurrection was crushed without mercy. Detention conditions were extremely harsh at the Annamite camp. Austere dungeons, hard labor and iron discipline combined with a climate conducive to the development of numerous diseases, including malaria, which wreaked havoc in the area.

Scattered here and there, the remains of the penal colony are now abandoned. Rust-ridden and overgrown, they make for a surprisingly gloomy sight. At the entrance to the trail, a veritable forest tunnel, a sign provides a few historical landmarks about the penitentiary. The visit is divided into two successive itineraries. The first section takes around 40 minutes. After this pleasant walk, you come to a clearing where most of the remains of the penal colony are grouped together. You'll discover wagons, cells... You can also take the second part of the trail, which for a while follows an old railroad installed by the convicts (approx. 30-40 minutes' walk). The trail ends at the small Anguille creek, where you can swim and picnic. If you're tempted to take a dip, be careful, as stingrays and eels can lurk beneath the sandbanks! Although the path is not very well signposted, it's hard to get lost if you stick to the wooden slats on the ground, which show you the way. It's an easy stroll, but as with any walk, you'll need comfortable footwear, as the whole circuit is 7 km long.