In 1895, a subcamp of the Saint-Laurent penal colony was opened for the incorrigibles, the worst prisoners.

[2][4][3] The prisoners had to work naked,[4][2] in a mosquito infested forest, and had to make 50 boards a day.

[2] In 1903, the camp was inspected by Liontel, the Attorney General of French Guiana, who removed the prisoners from the two-person chains,[6] Liontel wrote a report to his superiors about the brutality and murders which had occurred at the camp.

[6] A 22 kilometre Decauville railway was constructed between Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni and Charvein to provide access to the sawmill, and the prison camp.

[9] The Surinamese Interior War, which was fought between 1986 and 1992, resulted in refugees crossing the border between Suriname and French Guiana.