Blockages - Looting: The Prefect, Serge Gouteyron and the President of the COM, Daniel Gibbs "condemn with the greatest firmness the atrocities committed in the last twenty-four hours on the territory"

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Barricades, fires, thefts, acts of vandalism, mortar fire at the gendarmes, intimidation of motorists ... Saint-Martin, the destination that makes people dream so much and that we nickname the "Friendly Island" has been the scene of particularly violent perpetrators yesterday. Particularly in Nettle Bay and Marigot where several traders have been the target of a handful of individuals with unacceptable behavior.

As a reminder, it's almost the beginning of the high tourist season. 

In terms of communication to promote the destination, can do better !

 

The authorities' reactions:

• The Prefect, Serge Gouteyron:

“While the Saint-Martinois aspire to a normal life and social peace, some individuals try in a very localized way, to sow disorder without other demands than those of the law of the street. 

After four years of economic, health and social difficulties, the island does not need this, while the State, neighborhood representatives, associations and elected officials have strengthened the dialogue to improve the daily life of the inhabitants, to bring a future for young people and develop the territory.

I solemnly appeal to reason and to everyone's positive reaction. It is high time to move forward ”.

 

• President from the Collective, Daniel Gibbs:

“I condemn with the greatest firmness the atrocities committed this night and this morning in the territory. How to tolerate that residents are taken hostage and businesses taken to task?

Nothing justifies this switch to violence and intimidation, and even less the taking of a neighborhood hostage by a few. 

Saint-Martin has suffered many plagues since the passage of Hurricane Irma in 2017, we have overcome these crises and we are today in a phase of economic and social development which should benefit everyone, with a post-Covid recovery in consolidate and a tourist season that promises to be - at last! - satisfactory. These irrational attitudes therefore come under collective suicide!… Because the evil that is done today, it is the Saint-Martinoises and the Saint-Martinois who undergo it. Why destroy what we took so long to rebuild ?!

We have been able to renew the dialogue with the spokespersons of social movements, with a single goal: to find a favorable outcome and to work, together, to respond to social emergencies which are real and worrying. Concrete actions have thus been announced in recent days, both in terms of vocational training for people looking for work and reintegration, and in terms of financing structuring projects for the territory in order to create jobs locally. The inclusion clause added to public contracts will guarantee this priority to the inhabitants of Saint-Martin. More than 18 hours of integration will be devoted to job seekers just for the three construction projects of the new 000 and 600 colleges and of the Concordia media library, which will inject € 900 million into the economy of Territory. 

"Don't shoot ourselves in the foot!" "

I therefore appeal for calm and reason. Let us not fall into gratuitous violence which will inevitably lead to disastrous economic consequences and further aggravate the existing social difficulties. Let us be in the co-construction rather than in the destruction. The priority is to work to find solutions, together. I repeat: let's not shoot ourselves in the foot! Saint-Martin and Saint-Martinois deserve better than chaos. 

As for the Government, I appeal to its responsibility, its responsiveness and its ability to listen. A month ago, I made proposals, in particular on compulsory vaccination and on the free choice of vaccines. Unfortunately no answer to date. The State must also take into account the crisis situation of our hospital center by strengthening its material and human resources. An appropriate and respectful health policy must therefore be applied overseas, so as to ease social tensions. And put an end to this worrying crisis of mistrust against the institutions of the Republic ”. _AF 

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source:

Faxinfo: https://www.faxinfo.fr/

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  1. Reaction December 1, 2021 at 06:58 am Reply

    Gentlemen responsible for the community and the prefecture, you are the representatives of the state and must protect the population, property and infrastructure of the island, which some thugs have started to burn, attack, mistreat...
    And you don't do anything except remove the burnt things from the road when they're done.
    I think it is really urgent to stop these few thugs, 2 or 3 groups of 15 people...
    We really need to clean up before it sinks the island for good, because it won't be long...
    These thugs dared to shoot live ammunition at the gendarmes, and well done the same, responded and eliminated them, with this kind of behavior it is unfortunately the only solution...
    I hope you will react quickly because the end of the future of the friendly island is near...
    On good terms…..

  2. Lucie LeBlanc December 1, 2021 at 14:13 am Reply

    I agree that since Irma the years have been difficult. But when you talk about violence and you shouldn't shoot yourself in the foot, I agree once again. But tourists have started to flee sxm a few years already because of the dirtiness of the beaches. I have been a tourist for several years and practically all the people I knew who spent the winter in sxm preferred to go to Mexico and in aftershock because the
    Beach are a disaster. I have never seen this in other neglected beach destinations. Tourists spend thousands of dollars or euros in restaurants, grocery stores and shops so they
    Easily pay the
    Salary of an employee who could use a tractor to collect algae all along Orientale Bay. Tourists love the sea and the beaches and unfortunately you don't make them a priority. Too bad the community does not understand the importance and all the money that tourists lose. I know that travel agencies no longer recommend sxm because of the seaweed and sargassum left on the beaches. It s extremely unfortunate to see all of your people choosing other destinations

  3. bernard pascal December 19, 2021 at 14:04 am Reply

    I loved living in St Martin for years I changed destination, due to aggression in broad daylight theft this island is dirty, too bad to leave this beautiful island 25 years ago I hope the authorities will change that one day, businesses need tourists to live, it benefits everyone's employment for the season. Good luck.

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