Interministerial Meeting No. 4 on the reconstruction of Saint-Martin.

President Daniel Gibbs participated, Tuesday, November 21, 2017, in the 4th interministerial meeting on the reconstruction of Saint-Martin. During this 4th opus, the prefect responsible for reconstruction, Mr. Philippe Gustin, presented his report to the ministers, in which he proposed recommendations for the reconstruction of Saint-Martin. It is from this report that a State/COM memorandum of understanding was signed. It follows the first protocol on operation, signed by President Gibbs and Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, during his visit to Saint-Martin on November 6.

 Signing of a protocol for the reconstruction
The protocol signed this Tuesday is entitled “cooperation in exemplary and united reconstruction” and sets out the framework for the reconstruction program, it concerns investment. As President Gibbs underlined in his speech to the ministers, this protocol will make it possible to strengthen the resources of the territorial State in Saint-Martin. “For Saint-Martin to be strong, we need a strong State and a strong Community”, indicated the President wishing to move forward in a “win/win” direction, with the State.
< br />Among the major points addressed in the protocol, urban planning issues. President Gibbs asked for the partnership with the state to be refined, “with respect for the skills of each person, and without forgetting that the debate on standards and skills, which should not overshadow that on means”.
 

The protocol also addresses the theme of regional cooperation. The State will strengthen its resources in terms of controlling migratory flows. An essential point for the President, who indicates that “the COM will hold its place and play its role, with a key objective: the creation of the United Congress for optimal cooperation”.

Regarding financing future investments, President Gibbs recalled local priorities in terms of public funding: water and sanitation networks, port infrastructure, reconstruction of educational establishments. “To succeed in the reconstruction, we hope that Saint-Martin will fully benefit from the credits of the Grand Investment Plan announced by the state on September 26.”

As for the application of this protocol, cooperation between services will be carried out through the establishment of project management assistance agreements between the State and the Community. The State, in concert with its operators and public establishments, will strengthen its local engineering capacities in order to provide assistance and support to the Community as well as to the various decentralized services of the State to conduct all operations linked to reconstruction.

For its part, the Community will establish a social diagnosis of precarious affected households in order to provide access to suitable housing. It will put in place a short-term priority intervention plan, including a census of temporary housing and areas of urbanization or reconstruction to be prohibited.

In terms of financing projects, the Community will propose, by March 31, 2018, a multi-year investment and catch-up plan, covering the period 2018-2023, and prioritizing priorities and projects. On this point, President Gibbs indicated that he would be there to identify structuring projects, but also wanted other points to be discussed, some involving legislative changes such as the intervention of the ANRU in Saint- Martin, but also the need to put in place national equalization mechanisms in terms of insurance and reinsurance.

The protocol also specifies that particular attention will be paid to operations for the reconstruction of establishments schools by the state which is also committed to promoting projects in the areas of ecological and energy transition, digital technology and professional training.

Like Protocol No. 1, this investment protocol is signed for a period of three years. The conditions of implementation are subject to the decisions of a monitoring committee bringing together monthly the interministerial delegate for the reconstruction of Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Martin, the delegated prefect for Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Martin, the president of the Community , as well as a member designated by the CCISM representing professionals concerned by reconstruction. The committee will, finally, develop a quarterly report on the implementation of this second part of the protocol which will be discussed, in the presence of the President of the Community, in the interministerial committee for the reconstruction of Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Martin and communicated to elected officials. of the community of Saint-Martin.

President Gibbs recognizes significant progress for the reconstruction of Saint-Martin in this protocol; he welcomes a new step taken, but nevertheless waits for certain points to be clarified, particularly in terms of financing. He will remain vigilant regarding the continuation of negotiations with the state, for a united and lasting reconstruction of Saint-Martin in a win-win partnership.