At the opening of the plenary session last Friday, Daniel Gibbs spoke about the health situation and the economic context of the French side.
"The efforts of Saint-Martin residents who, in their vast majority, respect elementary health precautions, contrary to popular belief, pay. In the coming weeks, and while some are losing their temper, we will have to remain united, cautious and vigilant. These efforts are binding, but essential: let's not forget that they have enabled us, in concert with a favorable demographic structure, to avoid a new confinement, now suffered by mainland France and Martinique ”, he commented before denouncing certain measures imposed by the State locally, precisely those linked to travel between Guadeloupe and Saint-Martin.
“The state has imposed severe travel restrictions between Saint-Martin and Guadeloupe. After the episode of the reopening of the border, I even qualified them as retaliatory measures. It's more than ever true, and the return of compelling reasons for traveling between the two islands destroys any hope of regional tourist flows, with the consequences that you can imagine on our small businesses ”, estimates the president of the COM.
“Worse, Saint-Martinois wishing to travel to Guadeloupe are now required to produce a test of less than 48 hours against less than 72 hours for travelers going in the Metropolitan / Overseas direction. No reciprocity of treatment… Would Saint-Martin be the earth, source of all dangers? He wonders.
"This measure, once again, falls under the stigmatization of Saint-Martin and Saint-Martinois, and the declarations [last week] of the director of the ARS, infantilizing, stigmatizing and unfounded, have deeply shocked me. », He confided.
In this context, Daniel Gibbs considers "more than ever necessary to consult with our neighbors of Sint Maarten, with the establishment of common health protocols and the pooling of local and state resources". He is expected to return to this point during his speech on November 11.
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