Situation update Visit Annick Girardin

I thank the Minister of Overseas Territories, Ms. Annick Girardin, for the time she devoted to Saint-Martin, to its elected officials and its inhabitants, on April 13 and 14, 2019. Our discussions made it possible to establish a new work dynamic and move forward on a consolidated basis for the reconstruction and development of Saint-Martin.
The working meeting on Saturday, April 13 at the port of Galisbay was intended to address priority issues of the community. The reconstruction of educational establishments and the financing of this work, notably through the European Union Solidarity Fund (FSUE) were widely discussed in the presence of Rector Mostafa Fourar, elected officials and technicians from the community and representatives of the State. . The minister announced that she was in favor of giving Saint-Martin an exclusive “drawing right” on the FSUE, until August 31, 2019. A major decision for the community which gains a few months on the initial deadline scheduled for December 31, 2018 , then extended to June 30. This postponement of two additional months will allow the community to make part of the investments in the reconstruction of educational establishments during the summer holidays, in July and August.

Regarding support for the State on the functioning of the community, the minister estimates that an amendment to the protocol signed in November 2017 could be ratified to help us compensate for the loss of 25 million on the exceptional operating allocation for 2018; an important decision for the still very fragile financial balance of the community. Concerted work must be undertaken with Madam Prefect Sylvie Feucher and her teams to jointly implement this financial revision of our budget. In anticipation, the Department of Financial Affairs of the Community has already worked on concrete solutions which will be proposed in this direction.
The economic development of the territory and the public policies that we are implementing to revive the Saint-Martin economy have also been at the heart of our discussions. The minister recalled the State's desire to support us on investment projects, with the responsibility for the community to present development projects. On this point, several projects were budgeted and presented to our fellow citizens last January. Others are being developed and will be presented over the months. For my part, I indicated the importance for Saint-Martin of having optimal collection of taxes and fair taxation for our fellow citizens. For this, we have requested strong involvement from Bercy services to support the community in implementing the tax reform that we are carrying out for adapted and attractive taxation. This involves putting in place the technical tools necessary for the application of this reform which should take effect in 2020.
The cooperation meeting with Minister Annick Girardin and Léona Marlin-Roméo, Prime Minister of Sint Maarten , was one of the key stages of the minister's 4th official trip to Saint-Martin, since Hurricane Irma. The operational cross-border cooperation program and in particular the common wastewater treatment infrastructure project were discussed at length. The common desire to be part of a rigorous agenda to avoid losing community credits (FED and FEDER) was underlined. I would add that agreements should be finalized shortly regarding maritime traffic with Anguilla or even crisis management and firefighting. Particular attention will also be paid to police and customs cooperation, in order to better act against criminal networks, particularly in the fight against drug trafficking.
The different work sequences with the minister and her delegation were constructive. Ms. Girardin opted for a frank and direct speech towards the community and state services. A new State/COM partnership, more focused on future projects, seems to be taking shape; we will of course remain vigilant so that this new dynamic is effective and lasting in the general interest of Saint-Martin and its inhabitants.