Against all expectations, we learned last Friday, the surprise resignation of the President of the CCISM, Jean Arnell by way of a press release.
“As you know, since July 4, 2014, I assume the responsibilities of President of the Interprofessional Consular Chamber of Saint-Martin. I am fully aware and grateful for the honor I have been given, the trust that has been placed in me and the duties that are attached to this function.
Since my election, I have always acted to safeguard existing businesses, support businesses throughout their life cycle and for territorial economic development. However, there is an inconsistency between the economic challenges weighing on Saint-Martin businesses, the missions of the chamber and the budgetary means necessary to fulfill them - an annual budget of 1,5 million euros.
In the strictest respect for our consular missions, which have never ceased to be the basis of my relationship with the elected representatives of the chamber, employers 'organizations, traders' associations, local elected representatives, parliamentarians and the State , I felt that it was my duty to focus my action on legal certainty and the financial sustainability of the chamber, as well as macroeconomic issues, given the economic situation in Saint Martin. In my opinion, I have carried out these actions in all transparency and truth for three and a half years.
After several years of consultations with the State on the financial compensation of the missions that we carry out, and with the Collectivity of Saint-Martin on a partnership for the support to the companies and the territory; I regret that no solution has been found for the financial sustainability of the CCISM.
In the current circumstances, I consider that I am not able to ensure the sustainability of the chamber and to carry out the actions of our mandate plan.
a) First, facing the State, guarantor of economic public order
• 5 million euros, this is the amount of damage for non-compensation of consular missions over the period 2010-2017,
• INSEE, no economic statistics (activity survey, family budget, budgetary multiplier, etc.),
• RCS, Saint-Martin remains dependent on the RCS of Guadeloupe,
• Less than 300 (out of 7.234) companies were able to benefit from post Irma restart aid,
• EUR, no mechanism to compensate for losses relating to a dollar economy in a euro zone,
• EMPLOYMENT, no measure to compensate for our ineligibility for the CICE and the need to reduce the cost of employment for hypercompetitive sectors (hotel industry, construction retail trade).
b) Secondly, faced with the Collectivity of Saint-Martin (COM) which, in its 11 years of existence, still does not assume its (regional) competence in matters of territorial economic development with in particular an economic development scheme with policies sectoral, alignment of a professional training plan (unskilled, jobs of today and tomorrow), the implementation of tax incentives… which require a real partnership between the Collectivity and the Companies.
• Since the (local) professional tax reform, the DLCP replaces the TA-TP and our tax revenue has been divided by 4. Furthermore, no funding exists for the chamber of agriculture (formerly a share of TFNB);
• COM Saint-Martin does not compensate for our loss of revenue (only € 180K in tax revenue in 2017) and the community has been demanding, since December 2016, the reimbursement of the salaries of the agents made available, i.e. € 280K per year;
• The repair, fitting out and furnishing works for the Maison des entreprises are estimated at € 450K.
Consequently, I take my responsibilities by presenting my resignation to you as President of the Interprofessional Consular Chamber of Saint Martin (CCISM) and member of its General Assembly.
I feel real gratitude to the elected representatives of the chamber, particularly the Presidents VIALENC and TACKLING, my Vice-President Angèle DORMOY for her support and commitment, Dorvan COCKS, Gary PAGE and Julien GUMBS for their contributions in agriculture and fishing, Fréderic ERB and Peter for their contributions on the attractiveness and security of commerce in the city center, Bulent GULAY for these works on the nautical sector, active members, merchant associations, employers' organizations and room agents with whom I collaborated during these eight and a half years.
Thank you again for your commitment to Saint Martin's businesses and for the trust and respect you have shown in my Presidency.
I am attached to Saint-Martin and I will continue to invest and act to restore the entrepreneurial confidence of Saint-Martinois.
The President of the CCI of Saint-Martin, Jean ARNELL
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