While the 4rd day of mobilization ended yesterday, the President of the Collectivity of Saint-Martin, Daniel Gibbs and the Territorial Councilors, went to the main dams on the island this weekend, awaiting announcements strong of the highest state authorities.
Since Thursday evening, December 12, President Gibbs has been in direct contact with the Minister for Overseas France, Annick Girardin, his now main contact. Together, they have started a process of discussions and exchanges which should lead, it is a shared objective, to a lasting return to appeasement.
On Saturday afternoon, he sent him a communication in which he recalled the main requests requiring urgent responses, namely:
- "Proceed with the immediate withdrawal of the version of the PPRN anticipated from August 6, 2019. Go back to the PPRN regulations of 2011 and take the time necessary to rewrite a PPRN project in line with the social, economic and cultural reality of our island.
I recall the will of my elected officials and of myself, we who lived Irma, to guarantee the protection of our population residing throughout the territory, in particular the coastal zone, in the face of a new type of natural disasters. "
The President specified that the elected officials of Saint-Martin, him in the lead, will only be "in favor of a PPRN designed in a rigorous and concerted manner, taking into account the inhabitants of Saint-Martin, their lifestyles and the preservation economic activities.
He also asked the Minister "to adopt new methods of representing the State in Saint-Martin (...)".
Concerned about the security of Saint-Martinois, the restoration of order and public security (sovereign competence) was also mentioned.
The President recalled the Community's desire to move forward more concretely in the evaluation of the resumption of the Environment competence "so that Saint-Martin is able to be in control of its future".
The elected officials of the Collectivity renew their call for appeasement.
The motivations must not be erased by methods using force ... (on either side of the barricades) or obstructing the right of everyone to move freely.
80 soldiers arrived as reinforcements from Guadeloupe
In view of the worrying situation, the State sent 80 new gendarmes to reinforce them from Guadeloupe to restore public order. They arrived on commercial flights last Friday and Saturday.
Retail sale of gasoline prohibited
Following the dissemination of videos showing the manufacture of incendiary and explosive devices, the prefecture has issued a ban on the retail sale of gasoline, particularly in jerry cans.
One policeman injured, several arrests made
The tension was still very strong on Friday at Sandy-Ground, as well as in Quartier d'Orléans, Grand-Case and Agrément which are still the most delicate points.
During the day last Thursday, a gendarme was slightly injured by the throwing of a stone. Contrary to a rumor circulating on social networks, "no soldier was wounded by gunshot," assures the prosecutor of Basse-Terre.
On the other hand, several arrests took place, in particular for two minors and an adult who could be involved in projectile throwing.
Garbage cans overflow in all areas
The agents of the Collectivity not being able to ensure the collection of household waste since last Thursday, the French part looks more and more like a giant trash over the days. With all the health risks that ensue ...
In short, the RATS will make their appearance, unlike the TOURISTS who will desert our "Friendly Island".
Military reinforcement
The authorities of Sint Maarten refuse the unloading of French military trucks at Pointe Blanche: Franco-Dutch cooperation undermined!
The Prime Minister of Sint Maarten, supported by her ministers, decided during a second emergency meeting with the Dutch authorities, that she will not grant authorization to the cargo ship from Guadeloupe for the unloading and transport of military trucks by sea, she said in a press release.
Moreover, it refused the crossing of the border of 4 trucks and 10 vehicles towards the French part to reinforce the forces of gendarmerie; the request had been made to her by the prefect.
“Both decisions were taken after long deliberations with the stakeholders and taking into account the negative implications of the demonstrations of the French side on the Dutch side; the safety and security of Sint Maarten and its inhabitants are our main priorities ”, explains the Prime Minister.
Still no school today!
As you would expect, the primary and secondary schools in Saint-Martin will be closed this Monday, December 16.
Saint-Martin always and again on the front page of the national media!
More than two years after the passage of Irma, the image of Saint-Martin is again degraded by the events in progress.
For information, the News of France 2 (editor's note: Saturday, December 14) spent long minutes on the validation of the PPRn, which triggered the riots on the island. _AF
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