President Louis Mussington is currently traveling in Europe, where he has had a series of official meetings in the service of Saint-Martin. The objective of this first official trip: an education of excellence for Saint-Martin, the promotion of local skills, the fight against poverty and equal opportunities.
After going to Guadeloupe on June 22 and 23, where he met the Director of ARS, Laurent Legendart and the interim director of the CHU Cédric Zolezzi on public health issues and the creation of a school nurse, then the dean of the University Antilles Guyane Mr. Morin on post-baccalaureate training opportunities, as part of the remote university campus project, President Louis Mussington flew to Paris for his first trip official in Europe.
Louis Mussington was accompanied by the territorial councilor Martine Beldor, member of the executive council, in charge of European affairs, by the parliamentarians Frantz Gumbs and Annick Petrus. He also found on the spot the territorial councilor Raphaël Sanchez, who attended the Water Forum in Rennes, in his capacity as president of the Water and Sanitation Establishment of Saint-Martin (EEASM).
During this first trip, the President of the Community wanted to meet key partners in order to implement a policy of inclusive and partnership actions in favor of our territory and its inhabitants. The Maison de Saint-Martin, Paris branch of the Collectivity, contributed to the preparation of these meetings. The delegation of technicians was made up of Rodrigue Angely, Director of European Funds / Contractual Policies, Rudya Lake, in charge of Missions Europe and Junisa Gumbs, Chief of Staff.
Meeting with the Director of Cabinet of the Minister of Overseas
The President and his delegation first went to the Overseas Ministry at 27 rue Oudinot on Tuesday June 28, where, in the absence of a minister due to a reshuffle, they were able to meet with Mr. Etienne Desplanques, Chief of Staff of outgoing Minister Yaël Braun-Pivet. Several topics were discussed during this exchange, such as the return of Saint-Martin teachers in the context of a request for derogatory measures, the question of the impoverishment of island populations and the need to support a real policy housing in Saint-Martin. The chairman also put back on the table the issue of financial compensation for the transfer of powers linked to the statutory changes in 2007. A subject that Louis Mussington would like to see finally brought to fruition.
Meeting with François Seners, member of the Constitutional Council
The exchange with François Seners, former prefect of Saint-Martin, specialist in institutional and statutory issues, he is the author of the report "Saint Martin, Saint Barthélémy: what future for the islands of northern Guadeloupe" of December 1, 1999 Thus, the subject of the revision of the organic law of February 21, 2007 was discussed at length, in particular the questions of the evolution of our institutional architecture and the expansion of the competences of the Collectivity. President Louis Mussington is indeed keen to renew solid ties with strategic players capable of supporting the interests of Saint-Martin at the highest level. This meeting was also an opportunity to discuss the missions of the Constitutional Council, to visit this emblematic place and to discuss institutional issues with the teams on site.
Meeting with François De KEREVER, Overseas Advisor to the President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron
Tuesday evening, June 28, the President of Saint-Martin joined François de Kerever at the Elysée Palace, in order to share with the highest authority, all the subjects worked on during the day. President Louis Mussington was able to take up with President Macron's adviser the salient points discussed that morning at the Overseas Ministry, with the aim of finding rapid solutions together, particularly on the question of the return of Saint-Martin teachers and structural needs of the territory within the framework of a healthy and lasting collaboration with the State. A particularly constructive exchange for the future of Saint-Martin.
Trip to Brussels on European issues
On Wednesday 29 June, President Louis Mussington traveled to Brussels, The working meeting with the geographical rapporteurs of the European Commission, Pierre Dirlewanger (DG REGIO who was leaving his post the same day), Andrea Murgia (DG REGIO, his replacement on the ERDF), and Xavier Godard from DG EMPLOI for the ESF, was an opportunity to take stock of the ERDF-ESF funds, in particular the REACT-EU and the next programs for 2021-2027. The president reassured his interlocutors as to the ability of the Collectivity of Saint-Martin to consume REACT-EU credits before the mandatory deadline of December 31, 2023.
Meeting with the Pélicarus student association
Back in Paris, President Mussington took the time to meet some members of the Pélicarus student association, in the presence of Jeanine Hodge, director of the Maison de Saint-Martin. Mr. Zidane Cocks and Mrs. Monique Mussington, accounting students and active members of the Pelicarus association, and Mrs. Warner Jackie, a tenured teacher working in Créteil and a former member of Pelicarus, were able to discuss with the president of the community, who plans to contextualize relations with Pelicarus within the framework of an agreement, currently under study, to create a real mobility path for our students.
Videoconference with Ambassador Roland Dubertrand, traveling to Saint-Martin from July 4 to 6, 2022
Roland Dubertrand, Minister Plenipotentiary 2nd class, is Ambassador in charge of regional cooperation in the Atlantic zone. President Louis Mussington spoke with the ambassador by videoconference, Thursday June 30, 2022, before his trip to Saint-Martin.
Cross-cutting topics were discussed in video, such as the Oyster Pond border, police cooperation and the right of pursuit at sea in the fight against drug trafficking. The question of taxation was also raised, in particular the desire for transparency on tax data which would make it possible to integrate Saint-Martin into the tax convention which will be signed between France and the Netherlands in terms of systematic exchanges of data. tax. This videoconference also made it possible to discuss cross-border European projects with Sint Maarten and the European funds dedicated to this purpose. The new cross-border operational program 2021-2027 provides for an envelope of €4.5M, i.e. more than 2 times less than the previous envelope which was €10M.
Meeting with the Director of SAUR, Vincent Pegoud
Finally, President Mussington took advantage of his stay in France to meet the director of SAUR, Vincent Pegoud, on the occasion of the Water Forum in Rennes, on the delicate question of the production of drinking water. in Saint Martin. This exchange allowed discussion was done in the presence of Senator Annick Petrus.
The territorial councilor Raphaël Sanchez, President of the EASM, was also on site. The President and his delegation also met young Saint-Martin residents living in the capital, some of whom hold significant positions, since one of them, the young Jeremy Sanchez, is a career soldier, a member of the close guard of President Macron. A fruitful stay for President Louis Mussington and his team who intend to lay the foundations of a policy of proximity on our territory but also with the highest French and European authorities, at the service of Saint-Martin and its inhabitants.
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