Balata
Balata is located in French Guiana
Balata
Balata
Location in French Guiana
Coordinates: 4°53′12″N 52°20′13″W / 4.8866°N 52.3369°W / 4.8866; -52.3369
CountryFrance
Overseas regionFrench Guiana
ArrondissementCayenne
CommuneMatoury
Area
  Total0.59 km2 (0.23 sq mi)
Population
 (2018)[1]
  Total2,067
  Density3,500/km2 (9,100/sq mi)

Balata is a town in the commune of Matoury in French Guiana. It is located at the junction of RN1 and RN2, and started as a Haitian shanty town.

History

Balata is named after the nearby Balata Creek. It is located at the junction of RN1 and RN2 in Matoury.[2]

Haitian emigration to French Guiana started in the late 1960s, and accelerated from the late 1980s onwards.[3] At first, they settled among the Haitians already living in Cayenne.[4] Starting in 1995, shanty towns like Balata appeared on the outskirts of the urban area.[5] Many of the settlers either bought or rented the land. By 2005, only a third of the residents were squatting.[6]

The favourable position at the junction of two main roads, triggered suburbanisation in the area. Family Plaza, a 30,000 m2 commercial centre with shopping mall,[7] a golf course,[8] and the Lycée Balata, a high school, were constructed in Balata.[9]

Balata, a neighbourhood of Matoury,[10] is listed as a QPV, a problematic urban area needing attention,[1] because of its crime rate[11]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Quartier Prioritaire : Balata". Système d'information géographique de la politique et de la ville (in French). Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  2. "L'échangeur de Balata ouvert et inauguré aujourd'hui". France Guyane (in French). Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  3. Romanovski & Piantoni 2008, p. Résumés.
  4. Romanovski & Piantoni 2008, p. 5.
  5. Romanovski & Piantoni 2008, p. 6.
  6. Romanovski & Piantoni 2008, p. 15.
  7. "Family Plaza". Petite Fute (in French). Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  8. "Practice Golf de Matoury". Blada (in French). Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  9. "Balata : blocage du lycée par des parents en colère pour réclamer du concret". France Guyane (in French). Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  10. "Matoury : portrait croisé de deux jeunes entrepreneurs du quartier de Balata". France TV Info (in French). Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  11. "Surinamer gearresteerd in Franse razzia". Dagblad De West (in French). Retrieved 20 March 2021.

Bibliography

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