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Prfet Vincent Berton, President Louis Mussington and Vice-Recteur Harry Christophe had the honour of laying the first stone to launch the College 900 construction. (Robert Luckock photo)

MARIGOT--Another symbolic first-stone-laying ceremony took place in La Savane on Monday afternoon for the future Collge 900 which replaces Soualiga Collge in Cul-de-Sac that was destroyed in Hurricane Irma in 2017.

The main principals, Prfet Dlgu Vincent Berton, President of the Collectivit Louis Mussington and Vice-Recteur Harry Christophe representing Guadeloupe Academy Recteur Christine Gangloff-Ziegler, were joined by Dput for St Read more

President Mussington In Paris To Sign Fort-De-France Appeal

President Louis Mussington (left), Senator Annick Ptrus (centre, right) and Dput for St. Martin and St. Barths Frantz Gumbs (right) with President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron (centr Read more

Frantz Gumbs Elected Dput For St. Martin And St. Barths

Frantz Gumbs

MARIGOT--Frantz Gumbs is the new Dput (Member of Parliament) for St. Martin and St. Barths in the National Assembly, following voting in the second round of the French legislative elections in St Read more

Frantz Gumbs, Daniel Gibbs, Advance To Second Round Of Legislative Elections

      Frantz Gumbs                                        Daniel Gibbs

MARIGOTParliamentary candidates Frantz Gumbs and Daniel Gibbs have qualified for the second round of the French Legislative Elections to be held June 18 following results of voting on both islands in the first round on Saturday evening.

  The two front runners are vying for the Dput seat in the National Assembly to represent the constituency of St Read more

Alternative List Members Create Political Party At Gen. Assembly

The board of the new political party Alternative poses with President of the Collectivit Louis Mussington and Vice-President Frantz Gumbs. (Alternative photo)

MARIGOT--Following a successful campaign in the recent Territorial Council election, the Alternative list headed by Valrie Damaseau has now become a political party following a general assembly of members on May 25 Read more

President Mussington Meets His Counterpart In St. Barthlemy

President Louis Mussington and his Vice-Presidents met with St. Barths President Xavier Lde (seated at head of table) on Monday.

MARIGOT--President Louis Mussington travelled to St Read more

Frantz Gumbs Not Running In 2017, Endorses Mussington Party Instead

MARIGOT--Former President of the Collectivité from 2008-2012, Frantz Gumbs has stated he will not be forming a list to contest the 2017 Territorial Council elections due to his commitments at the Cité Scolaire where he is the Principal.

Read more

Richardson: Court May Rule In Favour Of Collectivité But ‘Battle With State Not Over’

~ Compensation owed is over 100 million euros ~

MARIGOT--Former President of the Territorial Council Alain Richardson has cautioned he expects the State to fight “tooth and nail” to reduce what is owed if the Constitutional Court agrees the Collectivité never received just compensation for the transfer of competences at the time of the change of status in 2007.
He explained the organic law stipulated transfer of competences must be done in “financial neutrality,” meaning from day one transfers and financial means must come at no cost to the Collectivité.
But it turned out total revenues were exceeding costs of compensation by 634,000 euros that resulted in the negative balance arrived at by the Commission d’ Evaluation des Charges Read more

Speeches, humour and anecdotes mark Préfet Chopin’s departure

MARIGOT--Tributes were paid to Préfet Délégué Philippe Chopin for dedicated service to St. Martin and St. Barths during his near-five-year tenure as the State’s highest representative, at a cocktail party in the Préfecture on Tuesday evening where he was presented with numerous gifts as tokens of appreciation.

Chopin takes on a new posting as a fully-fledged Préfet for the Region of Creuse in Central France.

As usual on such occasions, the Préfecture’s conference room was packed with representatives of all of the institutions, Gendarmerie, Police Territorial and border police (PAF) among them, with whom the Préfet worked.

The guest list included Dutch-side dignitaries Governor Eugene Holiday, Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs and Justice Minister Dennis Richardson while from the French side former Senator Louis-Constant Fleming and former Presidents of the Collectivité Frantz Gumbs and Alain Richardson were present Read more

Hollande declares Court of First Instance will open January 2016

MARIGOT--President of the French Republic François Hollande made a number of sweeping announcements in his speech to the population of St. Martin at the end of his whirlwind visit to St. Martin last night. Among them were assurances that the social benefit (RSA) would be reformed to be more adaptable for St. Martin with help given to pay off the Collectivité's debt.

He also said a Court of First Instance and a rehabilitation centre for the youth (foyer educatif) would be established, and the number of Gendarmes in the territory would increase this July.

Hollande appeared to be decisive and up to speed on the issues plaguing St Read more

Pascal Averne takes up new post in Guadeloupe

~ Leaves Collectivité after 10 years' service ~

MARIGOT--The Collectivité's Director General of Services (DGS) Pascal Averne is to leave St. Martin on December 23 after ten years at the helm of the administration, to take up a new posting in his native Guadeloupe.

As of January 1, 2015, he will serve as Chef de Cabinet for UMP politician Marie-Luce Penchard who is the Maire of Basse-Terre and daughter of former Regional Council of Guadeloupe President Lucette Michaux-Chevry.

The Collectivité bid a fond farewell to Averne at a function held in his honour in the Sandy Ground Cultural Centre cinema on Tuesday evening attended by colleagues with whom he worked, the four presidents who held office during his tenure and former Mayor Albert Fleming during the Commune era.

Such was the scope of his function – he needed to be fully conversant with not only the running of the Collectivité, but also the issues of the day concerning State, Department, Region and the new untested organic law that ushered in the new status – that he was the most-sought-after official for clarification or consultation on any topic and acted as adviser to the former Mayor, the first President Louis-Constant Fleming, subsequent Presidents Frantz Gumbs and Alain Richardson, and Aline Hanson today.

He was in regular contact with sectors such as health, education, justice, Gendarmerie, Chamber of Commerce, district councils, economic council, etc Read more

Minister praises ‘quick’ recovery efforts on visit

MARIGOT--French Minister of Overseas Territories George Pau-Langevin has praised the "very quick" efforts of the territory to get back on its feet following the passing of Hurricane Gonzalo, on her visit to St. Martin and St. Barths on Sunday.

She especially thanked law enforcement, SNSM sea rescue, EDF and all service providers for working flat out to assist the population in getting back to normal daily routines.

"As the tourist season is starting shortly, it was important for us to see areas like Orient Beach that depend on tourism," she said before departing for St Read more

Development Contract signed between Collectivité and State

MARIGOT--The 2014-2017 Development Contract was signed Wednesday by Préfet Philippe Chopin and President of the Collectivité Aline Hanson. The Préfet noted that the State's contribution has risen by 9 million euros compared to the last 2010 contract signed between then President Frantz Gu Read more

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