On December 1, 2021, the Executive Council decided to request official recognition, by the General Delegation for the French Language and the Languages of France, of the Saint-Martin English lexically-based Creole as the regional language of communication on the island. and to request its inclusion on the list of regional languages in France.
This wish was presented at a meeting of the Territorial Council on Sunday, December 19, in order to discuss in a public plenary session the challenges of the recognition of the Saint-Martin language at the national level and to inform the Assembly of the work currently in progress. Classes.
In order to illustrate this request for recognition and the impact of our mother tongue on our daily lives, the Collectivity of Saint-Martin presented a film produced by its communication department in partnership with Christophe Henocq, agent in charge of archaeological and scientific missions at the within the Human Development delegation of the Collectivity.
As the President of the Territorial Council recalled in his opening remarks, “Saint-Martin's English is a fundamental element of our cultural identity. It is a cement of social cohesion, a means of daily communication. As such, as Article 75-1 of the Constitution allows, it must be preserved alongside the language of the Republic ”.
The recognition of our English Saint-Martin is also of particular importance in terms of education, with in particular as a priority the development of the teaching offer of the regional language. The studies carried out in this area agree in saying that a better quality of teaching in overseas territories requires a reform of the teaching of regional languages and therefore their respective recognition.
In addition, access to heritage, to the creation and dissemination of information in the regional language is a major issue in the territories, particularly through the media and culture, but also in administrative, social and economic life.
The work carried out over the past 15 years in France has demonstrated the legitimacy and public utility of regional languages which must be taught from an early age for a better understanding of information. The Collectivity of Saint-Martin is part of this dynamic and will bring this wish before the competent national authorities.
President Daniel Gibbs told elected officials that he would follow this emblematic subject and "this work which will bring strong and urgent social responses, in particular with regard to a reduction of edifying school gaps", with particular attention in the months to come while keeping support informed of developments.cées of this file dear to Saint-Martinois.
No comments