Located on the southern end of French Guiana, Sainte Maria is a beautiful island full of natural beauty, culture and tradition. This island is most famous for its tropical rainforest, which makes up about seventy percent of the island’s population, and also for the rich tradition of local cuisine. It is also one of the few destinations in French Guiana, that are known for their coral reefs. Sainte Maria enjoys good relations with most of its community and tourists, who come to experience the island’s tropical climate, rich culture, and idyllic beaches. Because the majority of its people are of Caribbean descent, Sainte Maria enjoys a multicultural background, with over half its total population (roughly fifteen hundred people) belonging to the Guianese or Polynesian ethnic groups.
Most people who live in Sainte Maria are originally from the Guianese, but many other nationalities have made homes here as well. The largest nationalities that live on Sainte Maria are the Creole (which makes up about a hundred and twenty-five people), the French (about a hundred and seventy-two people), the Barbizon (about thirty-three people), and the German (about forty-eight people). Some notable ethnic backgrounds include African, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese ancestry. Overall, Sainte Maria is a melting pot of nationalities that have brought their own traditions and cultures to the island over the years. Most of the residents speak French as their native language, though many also speak German, Spanish, Italian or the British language (Commonwealth Language Program). Other languages spoken in Sainte Maria include Portuguese (four hundred and fifty residents), Chinese (nearly four hundred and twenty-two residents), and English (nearly two hundred and fifty residents).
The communities of Sainte Maria are quite varied, especially in terms of their ages. Many of the younger island’s residents are drawn to the arts, creativity, and the unique atmosphere of this community and surrounding areas, while older generations are drawn to the beauty of the island’s beaches and countryside. One major factor behind the island’s age is the lack of any major industry or job generating income for the bulk of its residents. This lack of income has, over time, led to a reduction in the overall standard of living and decayed standards of hygiene and education amongst the local population.