“Called to take a position in a relative emergency, in a complex health context, I will unfortunately not be able to organize a departure ceremony and I regret it.

This would have given me the opportunity to thank all the public and private partners - and they have been very numerous - who have invested themselves alongside me during these two and a half years.

Appointed in July 2018, with the essential mission of helping to rebuild Saint-Martin, I took up my post knowing and noting from my arrival, the damage of this devastating cyclone. Mr. President of the Republic, during his official visit to the island on September 29 and 30, 2018, gave me a very specific mission letter. I thank all the officials of the Prefecture of Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélemy, as well as the services of the Prefecture of Guadeloupe, for allowing me to honor it in full. I was able to benefit from their unfailing commitment to Saint-Martin and their professionalism. I thank them for that.

Much has been done but much remains to be done on the territory for the island to regain its colors.

I have a particular thought for the associations which have helped me to set up structuring projects for the territory and which have enabled us to help the people and families most in difficulty due to the current crisis.

I will regret the courtesy of the drivers of Saint-Martin which should only exist on this island. I am still amazed and it must be preserved.

I liked the simplicity and kindness of the population and the regular exchanges with locals during my travels. Thanks to them, I learned a lot about the territory.

I will keep the memory of an endearing island which must continue to move forward while keeping in mind that the world is changing and that we must take into account the inevitable challenges of tomorrow.

I leave the sunny beaches of Saint-Martin for the beautiful Pyrenees mountains and their harsh climate. I know that there again I will find a lot of authenticity ”.

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