The project is led by the nautical center of Saint-Martin and supported by the DRAJES, the Prefecture and the Collectivity.
Enabling children to learn to swim has been the ambition for several years of Bülent Gülay, president of the Saint-Martin nautical center. This ambition is all the more legitimate given that nearly 80% of children do not master “know how to swim” locally. The main reason being the lack of equipment.
This lack, Marc Fabre de la Drajes* in Marigot, also noticed when he arrived on the island four years ago. So when the two men met, they joined forces and worked together on a project for an above-ground pool for learning to swim, 30 meters long and 12 meters wide.
Initially, Bülent Gülay and Marc Fabre looked for land to set up the basin. "After much research, a piece of land at Sandy Ground seemed to us to be the ideal location", explain the two men. Precisely the unoccupied plot near the Anse des Sables residence. “It is a private land located in a priority area, close to many schools with direct access to the sea”, underline the two men.
Secondly, Bülent Gülay and Marc Fabre worked to satisfy another constraint, this one of an urbanistic nature. “We are in the red zone of the PPRN and we do not have the right to build. So we opted for a completely removable and dismountable structure. It is an innovative and unique project in the Caribbean”, specifies Bülent Gülay.
The perimeter of the basin will be materialized by water collection tanks which will be covered with a thick and waterproof coating. “We will have 90 tanks. Filled, they will weigh a ton each. And, in the event of a cyclone, we can empty the tanks and remove them. Dismantling the basin will take two days, ”describes the president of the nautical center. Around the pool will be placed a wooden deck to “allow lifeguards to exercise in optimal conditions”.
The basin will be filled with sea water to a height of 1 meters. “We can reduce the level to 10 cm to practice other water activities such as paddleboarding or kayaking. We are also going to install a system that creates a wave, this will allow young people to learn about surfing in particular,” adds Bülent Gülay.
This project will have for first vocation to welcome the pupils of the schools; swimming will be integrated into the school curriculum. The second vocation will be to open the basin to the general public outside school hours. So anyone wishing to swim or train can go there. The nautical club also plans to set up agreements with associations to give them privileged access. Elderly or other people may also come as part of a wellness program in the aquatic environment. “The club will be affiliated with the French swimming federation, which will make it possible to participate in the Pass'Sports system and to offer memberships to young people at preferential rates”, adds its president.
Recently during a site visit, Bülent Gülay and Marc Fabre presented the project to the prefect Vincent Berton and to President Louis Mussington who expressed their desire to see this project materialize and assured the nautical center of their support.
The project (investment and operation) will be financed by public funds (state and European), the COM should also contribute to the operation. It will generate three direct lifeguard jobs as soon as the pool opens “and a rise in power in previous years depending on attendance”.
Construction is due to begin in early 2023 and last around six months.
* Regional Academic Delegation for Youth, Commitment and Sports (DRAJES).
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