Semsamar wished to react to comments made against it by the President of the Republic, regarding its mode of operation and its activities. 

SEMSAMAR attended - through the media! - the last visit of the President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron to Saint-Martin. Indeed, no employee in charge of the reconstruction of the property stock of the semi-public company was invited to meet the presidential team.

Main social landlord of Saint-Martin where it provides housing to 1 families, SEMSAMAR has been accused, gradually, during the visit that the President of the Republic devoted to Quartier d'Orléans, in particular, of irresponsibility and illegal practices. However, the State services accompanying the President were regularly and fully informed of the progress of the stages, the work and the financing.

State aid to social landlords 

First of all, the President of the Republic indicated that “The State has released a credit of 6 million euros available to social landlords provided that these landlords do not pay dividends to their shareholders for three years. I note that these credits were not paid for lack of the agreement of one of the financial backers of which we visited yesterday one of the accommodation ”, namely SEMSAMAR.

It is undoubtedly important to specify that it is at the request of SEMSAMAR that the State released a loan of 6 million euros for social donors from the Emergency Fund for housing. This request was made by SEMSAMAR, the day after Cyclone IRMA hit. It required the mobilization of other social landlords. It was supported by parliamentarians from overseas. The credits released by the State for the rehabilitation of social housing are included in the aid granted to the Collectivité of Saint-Martin. The Prefect of Reconstruction of Saint-Martin has clearly announced that no sum could be paid directly to social landlords. According to the texts, "decisions relating to the use and management of the Emergency Fund are jointly adopted by the Minister responsible for housing and the Minister responsible for the Budget". SEMSAMAR has been informed by the press of the publication of this decision. She was also informed of the drafting of an agreement to be signed by the Collectivité of Saint-Martin and the Prefect of Guadeloupe, on the implementation of the aid granted.

It did not and never had to give an agreement. She cannot concretely oppose the payment of aid for which she fought in order to implement the rehabilitation of her social housing. The distribution of dividends, on which the payment of state aid is conditional, remains the decision of the shareholders of the various social landlords. The words of the President of the Republic therefore demonstrate that he was not informed correctly by the State services of the blockages of this file. This situation, as the President says, is indeed unacceptable.

End of the legacy of the past and new governance

The Management of SEMSAMAR has not ceased to establish in recent years, through the controls and procedures, which it, too, had inherited from a past situation. It campaigned and organized financial transparency of its activities and a clear presentation of its objectives (Strategic Asset Plan, Medium Term Plan). She challenges the legal proceedings initiated against her since May 2012, still in progress 6 years later and which earned her a conviction by a large number of officials in charge of public policies. She recalls that one of the foundations of a democracy is independent justice. In a state of law, judicial procedures are the responsibility of Justice and not of political power.

(continued in our next edition).

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