On Tuesday, April 9th, in the morning, hundreds of protesters stormed the sub-prefecture of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni after breaking the padlock on the gate surrounding the building. About seven hundred people had gathered in front of the building since early morning, demanding stronger measures against insecurity. They waited several hours for the sub-prefect to arrive by helicopter to begin a crisis meeting. The protest was triggered by the murder of Hélène Tarcy-Cétout, a thirty-four-year-old Guyanese pharmacist, the thirteenth homicide in Guyane since January 1, 2024. The alleged perpetrator, a man in his thirties, was apprehended by bystanders and then arrested by the police. Hélène Tarcy-Cétout had just left a cafeteria to go open the pharmacy where she was doing a replacement shift when she was killed with a knife for reasons that are still unexplained.
On Monday, pharmacies in Guyane closed in solidarity with a statement released by Sophie Charles, the mayor of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, who mentioned the loss of a “brilliant woman” who had much to offer to their community, and Gabriel Serville, the president of the Territorial Collectivity of Guyane, who praised her uncommon commitment. The victim’s personality and social impact amplified the shock in Guyanese society. A mother of four, she was a volunteer firefighter and was among the winners of the national competition “101 female entrepreneurs” received on March 8th at Matignon by Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, for a project in the well-being sector dedicated to women. Hélène Tarcy-Cétout had returned to Guyane a year ago after studying and working in mainland France. She had many plans and wanted to create a large modern pharmacy in Saint-Laurent.
On Tuesday evening, the alleged perpetrator of the homicide was still in police custody. He was a homeless person born in Guyane, who had previously been in prison. The increase in aggression towards residents and businesses with weapons since late 2023 has raised concerns in the community. Gilbert Dolloue, spokesperson for the collective “Positif Soholang Pikin,” which represents the positive natives of Saint-Laurent, one of the bushi-nengue people descended from the runaway slaves of Suriname, poses the question to authorities: how far will this violence go? The situation has sparked outrage and calls for action to address the rising insecurity in the region.
The murder of Hélène Tarcy-Cétout has deeply affected the local community, leading to protests and demands for increased security measures. The victim’s vibrant personality, community involvement, and ambitious plans have further highlighted the tragedy of her untimely death. As investigations continue and the alleged perpetrator remains in custody, the need for addressing the root causes of violence and insecurity in Guyane is becoming more urgent. The collective grief and shock in response to this senseless act of violence have underscored the importance of coming together as a community to seek justice and prevent such tragedies from happening again. The ongoing dialogue and calls for action from various stakeholders reflect a shared commitment to creating a safer and more secure environment for all residents of Guyane.
