Unbiased look at the Sint Maarten Elections
MARIGOT--The Executive Council at its most recent meeting voted to release 20,000 euros of emergency aid for farmers and livestock breeders to enable them to purchase much needed water and foodstuffs for their animals.
The subvention has been given to Association de Développement de L’Elevage et la Promotion des Produits Agricoles Locaux (ADEPPAL) to purchase supplies and distribute on a priority basis.
It was noted the current drought has affected the whole of the Caribbean for the last six months, caused US1-million dollars in lost crops and thousands of dollars in value of cattle that have perished. The drought additionally brings on a decrease in livestock production rates, fertility rate and has a negative influence on weight.
At a meeting in the Préfecture on July 16 with livestock breeders it was decided to incorporate St. Martin in the Préfecture of Guadeloupe’s fact-finding mission to assess the damage in the agriculture sector. This inclusion in the national system will enable St. Martin to be recognised in the future in terms of agricultural disasters due to drought and thus be able to access emergency aid.
With regard to structuring of the fishing industry in St. Martin the Council voted to choose the letters SW (for Swaliga) for registration of fishing vessels and other maritime purposes. Up to now the letters PP from Guadeloupe have been used. The new letters have to be approved first by Contrôle de Légalité.
It was also decided to create a territorial committee for shellfish culture, marine fisheries and marine farms. This committee will be charged with the promotion of fisheries, development and enforcement of regulations in the sector, achievement of economic actions, participation in the public policy of development of fishing industry professionals and providing scientific and technical support.
According to the Collectivité’s information, St. Martin has 12 registered professional fishermen and 38 part-time or informal fishermen. Some 10 fishing vessels are also registered with just under half being the “Saintoise†type of boat.
The untapped fishing sector is regarded as having potential to create employment as retired fishermen need to be replaced. St. Martin has access to funds amounting to 769,196 euros from Fonds Européen des Affaires Maritimes et de la Pêche (FEAMP) compared to 8.2-milion-euros for Guadeloupe.
In the 2014-2020 compensation plan for the fishing sector a further 3.1-million-euros is estimated for additional cost while FEDER in the 2014-2020 operation programme is making 1.25-million-euros available for port investment, for example two docks for fishing boats.
Anguilla and St. Maarten can also cooperate on obtaining INTERREG funds.
