Abstract
This chapter addresses the diversity in ethno-social and economic conditions of the population in terms of poverty and inequality reduction policy. In this view, the chapter questions the efficiency of public policy approaches regarding both the poverty reduction strategies at different urban and geographic scales in French Guyana. Consequently, it points out the different views of the immigrants of socio-spatial integration and/or reintegration in urban public/private housing.
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Notes
- 1.
In 2009, 230,000 people are registered in French Guyana including 33% of aliens. Citizens from three countries (Brazil, Suriname and Haiti) constitute 90% of the immigrant population. For decades, French Guyana has been receiving immigrants. In 2003, 14,242 Haitians are numbered in French Guyana. Also, according to the official data published by the French census bureau (INSEE-Guyane) in 2000, 14,143 Haitians were counted and constituted 30.4% of the total French Guyanese population (46,576 people)—alongside other major migrant communities which include 17,654 Surinamese, 7171 Brazilians and 2343 Guyanese (from former British Guyana).
- 2.
According to the official data published by the French census bureau (INSEE-Guyane-TER 2003) in 2000, 14,143 Haitians were counted and constituted 30.4% of the total French Guyanese population (46,576 people)—alongside other major migrant communities which include 17,654 Surinamese, 7171 Brazilians and 2343 Guyanese (from former British Guyana). Also, in 2009 (INSEE 2011), 230,000 people are registered in French Guyana including 33% of aliens. Citizens from three countries (Brazil, Suriname and Haiti) constitute 90% of the immigrant population. For decades, French Guyana has been receiving immigrants.
- 3.
INSEE-Guyane-TER (2003: 6) – La démographie des Antilles et de la Guyane entre 1982 et 1997.
- 4.
Récensement Général de la population de 1990: Logements – Population et Emploi. INSEE-Guyane-TER (2003: 64).
- 5.
The Haitian population is redistributed in the Cayenne agglomeration in the year 2000 as follows: Cayenne 6244 (or 50.1%), Matoury 2697 (or 56.7%), Rémire-Montjoly 1156 (or 44.7%).
- 6.
For example, the spatial distribution of spontaneous and substandard housing in the agglomeration of Cayenne, particularly in the commune of Matoury, reached for the years of 1987, 1992 and 1998 the respective numbers of (in % of hectares) 7.58; 17.80; and 19.28.
- 7.
First, voted on June 28, 1994, promoting transversal ministry city policy (or in French speaking “Direction inter-ministerielle à la ville-D.I.V”) associating the state, municipalities, the regional council and the general council—second, on July 29, 1998 (social rights to housing and reducing poverty policy).
- 8.
Or in French speaking, “le plan départemental d’actions pour le logement des personnes défavorisées (PDALPD)”.
- 9.
Or in French speaking, “le plan départemental d’actions pour le logement des personnes défavorisées (PDALPD)”.
- 10.
First, voted on June 28, 1994, promoting transversal ministry city policy (or in French speaking “Direction inter-ministerielle à la ville-D.I.V”) associating the state, municipalities, the regional council and the general council—second, on July 29, 1998 (social rights to housing and reducing poverty policy).
- 11.
“The conventional notion of poverty is narrow, characterizing it in terms of deprivation or lack of essential goods and services.” [But also,]… Chuhan (who refers to a Amartya Sen, an Economist Nobel prize winner in 2000) goes over a simple definition of poverty relying on income and consumption of commodities to satisfy basic needs (food, shelter, clothing…)—to extend his definition to other parameters of well-being such as vulnerability, risk, lack of voice, powerlessness, political participation, health, education, security, inequity in opportunities, etc.…
- 12.
Brazilian, Surinamese and Guyanese (former British Guyana).
- 13.
The numbers are presented in French francs because they have been published by the French state in the end of 1999 before the adoption of the Euro currency in 2000. However, in terms of giving more insight into the currency conversion, I would say that 1 euro globally equals 6 French francs.
- 14.
“…the term poverty is taken to mean human needs are not met…” […] “At the heart of the poverty reduction strategy papers lies the identification of the poor…”.
- 15.
In some circumstances (and not all the time), the two mutually exclusive accounts can be combined.
- 16.
The United Nations Millennium Development Goal.
- 17.
For those living under the poverty line.
- 18.
One out of four French citizens in Guyana lives under the poverty line.
- 19.
“…noted that employments offered are partly channeled through the job market. Another large part of the jobs are undeclared and low-paid, because there is a lack of connection between the three sectors (agricultural productive farms, construction and infrastructure and public administration) of the economy which is marked by a high unemployment rate”.
- 20.
The poverty line measurement differs from one French department to another. The poverty rate in French Guyana would be 37% in lieu of 25% if the financial benefits were not paid to the poor to reduce inequalities. Public financial benefits for people living under the poverty line represent 60%. In comparison with other French overseas departments, French Guyana has a poverty rate of 9.5%.
- 21.
This concept is used in the sense of Thomas Khun (1996). It means a move from one way of thinking to another as a scientific revolution.
- 22.
For example, beneficiaries of affordable houses from the SIGUY (para-statal housing agency in French Guyana) have to provide some key personal documents as the proof of residency, civil status, low-income household and paystubs.
- 23.
It is important to note that beneficiaries of the public affordable housing, while they are largely renters of their homes, could also buy them and become owners through some administrative and legal procedures.
- 24.
“…an incremental process which begins by rejecting the intellectual margins of a given paradigm [in the sense of scientific paradigms of Thomas Khun 1996], while its intellectual core endures. At the end of the day, the mental mechanisms that impede desertion of this intellectual position disappear when confronted by an accumulation of negative empirical evidence. This constitutes the last step before the ‘conversion’ of a new paradigm […]. In the process of policy change described by Hall, actors also try to find a new coherence by fighting against intellectual inconsistencies”.
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Zéphirin, R. (2020). The Ethno-social and Spatial Diversity in Urban Poverty and Inequality Reduction Policy. In: Political Demography and Urban Governance in French Guyana. Palgrave Pivot, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-3832-2_4
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