French Guiana Report

Overview ? French Guiana is situated on the northeast coast of South America and is bordered by Brazil and by Surinam to the west. Along the coast runs a belt of flat marshy land behind which the land rises to higher slopes and plains or savannah. The interior is comprised of equatorial jungle. Off the rugged coast lie the Iles du Salut and Devil\'s Island. Cayenne, the capital and chief port, is on the island …

…French Guiana\'s status for the time being. GOVERNMENT: As an Overseas Department, French Guiana is represented by one member of the Senate and one member of the National Assembly in France. Locally, there is a 19-member general Council (current President: Stephan Phinera) which assists an appointed Prefect, and the 31-member Regional Council. Both are elected for a 6-year term by universal adult suffrage. Regional Council elections are due for 1998.