Grand Gathering: Intervention by President GIBBS

Sunday October 8, 2017

**Speech by President Gibbs**

Dear friends,
Hello everyone,
Welcome and thank you for coming to share this moment with us.
I am very moved to see so many of you, here, on our dear Marigot Seafront, which represents in my eyes and in the eyes of many Saint-Martin residents, a place symbolic.
It is here that the ancients used to meet. They liked to meet on the Market Square, which was set up not so long ago - until the mid-90s - under the large Sand Box Tree (in front of the seaside bar).
Ironically, IRMA uprooted this magnificent tree. We had to remove it, just Friday, with a heavy heart. This story is symptomatic of what we have been experiencing for the past month.
Everything has changed.
On September 6, almost a month ago to the day, our island has suffered the thunderbolts of IRMA. I say the thunderbolts because the destructive force of this category 5+ or even 6 hurricane had never existed so far in our region and very rarely elsewhere in the world.

This hurricane will remain engraved in our memories, because we all - without exception - lost a lot. There will be a before and after IRMA, as there was a before and after LUIS in 1995.

The most difficult thing to accept for the man and elected official that I am is the assessment human from this climate catastrophe. 11 lives directly cut short, eleven families plunged into pain and disarray.
On this day of gathering, I have a very moved thought for the victims of IRMA, for their families. We send them all our support and our most sincere condolences.
We will know, when the time comes, to pay an official tribute to those who died.
Saint-Martin has lost a lot, but we have also learned a lot. We have been able to see that in the face of adversity some – and fortunately there are the most numerous – have shown the best of themselves by showing generosity and kindness. While others revealed their darkest side. I think of the looters.
For these, I know that justice will continue its action so that their actions do not go unpunished.
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Last April, the elected representatives of the territorial council were committed to Saint-Martin, its prosperity and the success of its youth.
IRMA should not divert our path, but on the contrary strengthen our determination and give us the opportunity to go further.
Let us not be mistaken. It is up to us Saint-Martin residents to recover our country.
Of course, we are accompanied by the highest authorities of the state, by Madam Prefect and her teams at the local level, but it is up to us to us to decide our destiny and give impetus to the economic recovery and reconstruction of our territory.
I have said it several times already, “I will not give up”. I will do everything to obtain fair reparation and financial compensation in line with the damage we have suffered and the legitimate expectations of our population.
IRMA was a huge shock, to the point where our local administration was strongly affected in the same way as all of you.
We have overcome this ordeal, our administration is in working order, and I have a thought for all the agents who have suffered damage and who nevertheless must carry out their service missions public to our population.
Dear friends, if I have brought you together today, it is above all to convey to you a message of hope. Together, we will rebuild our “country”, I am counting on you.
We will move forward as we know how, by working each at our level, in cohesion and unity.
Cooperation, solidarity, union, are essential values, which resonate throughout all the stronger since September 6, and I can only feel proud of my population when I see the result of our efforts a month later.
I am proud of your resilience, of your personal investment, alongside businesses, armed forces, and the many volunteers who gave their time to clean up Saint-Martin.
Proud of the unfailing generosity of our fellow citizens towards those who lost everything. These are the true Saint-Martin values ​​and I congratulate you.
I thank the pastors who responded to this call to gather. Many churches were destroyed, and it was only natural to allow them to gather their faithful on this seafront, damaged but still there.
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My dear citizens,
This “get together event” we wanted it to be yours, to give you the chance to meet and to share a few hours together.
IRMA put us face to face with a white sheet. We have the unexpected opportunity to redesign the new landscape of Saint-Martin. It is an extraordinary challenge that carries with it a huge hope for the future of our island that we love so much and for the future of the upcoming generations.

With IRMA, we put a knee on the ground , but we know how to get up all together. And I see already in your eyes that we will go through it.
The times are tough, but I want to reassure you that tomorrow will come better days.
Together, let's make Saint-Martin smile again!
Thank you