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MARIGOT--The project to create a branch of Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe's, Court of First Instance (Chambre Detachée) in St. Martin will not start until January 2016 with a forecasted opening in October 2016 due to the preparation of a decree, it was disclosed Thursday. General preparations are ongoing however.
Originally the plan, according to President François Hollande's announcements during his official visit on May 8, was for the project to start this July with an intended opening in January 2016.
The Court of First Instance annex will be located in the former Municipal Library, at the rear of the court house in Marigot.
President of the Territorial Council Aline Hanson met with Basse-Terre Prosecutor Samuel Finielz on Thursday to discuss the project's progress. It was noted that Director of Judiciary Services Jean-Francois Beynel has already been to St. Martin and presented the project and the financing required to the Justice Minister.
A steering committee assembled in Paris, also confirmed in June that Agence Publique pour L'Immobilier de la Justice (APIJ) will be in charge of the renovation work in the former library. The Ministry of Justice is to finance the project.
Prosecutor Finielz informed President Hanson that staffing for the Chambre Detachée in St. Martin has also been earmarked.
Hanson was joined at the meeting by Director of General Services (DGS) Philippe Millon and Léonie Flanders, who is responsible for the justice service of the Collectivité. There was mutual agreement between Hanson and the Prosecutor that the project must advance without delays and each stage carefully monitored by Guadeloupe and the Collectivité.
The urgency of the project was underlined by Prosecutor Finielz, who noted that 38 per cent of penal activity dealt with by the Court of First Instance in Basse-Terre originates from St. Martin, and at least 50 cases a year (from St. Martin) are judged on a fast-track basis (comparution immédiate). There is also concern about the number of minors implicated in criminal activity.
The subject of dealing with juvenile delinquency and creating a special youth rehabilitation centre (foyer educatif) was also discussed. Philippe Millon noted this was worked on last week in Paris with the Justice Ministry. The centre will receive juvenile offenders and also have a service to care for minors in danger.
Prosecutor Finielz disclosed that an association to give aid to victims of robberies, domestic violence and child abuse, will be formed soon.
He also announced that St. Martin Vice-Prosecutor Flavien Noailles, who is leaving will be replaced on September 1, by Vice-Prosecutor Mickael Ohayon, who will be transferring from Bayonne.
