SXMElections.com

~ Family gives detailed explanation of family history ~

MARIGOT--With the on-line petition “Our Land Matters – we are St. Martin” rising to 495 signatures, the Beauperthuy family in St. Martin has sought to give the population a full overview of the family history as they fight a legal action to prevent parcel AW59 at Boo Boo Jam from being auctioned off for 341,000 euros despite the fact the family are current heirs to the property.
To recap, the family at the beginning of August received notification by a Marshall to vacate parcel AW59 within 15 days. According to the family’s legal counsel in reality this is one month’s notice. The case is still pending. The family has also briefed President of the Collectivité Aline Hanson on the matter.
“Our Land Matters- We are St. Martin” is a movement to safeguard the property rights of the indigenous family ‘Beauperthuys of St. Martin/ St. Maarten’ and others from the French colonial powers,” the family stated in their release. “The Beauperthuy family of St. Martin/ St. Maarten was given notarial deed dating back from the 1930’s, and have occupied the property for over 150 years.
“But In France a group of families have gathered, unknown to those on St. Martin, claiming lineage to an 1861 family member “Pierre Daniel Beauperthuy.” The “would be” successors in France created a Beauperthuy history pinpointing a “start date” of a Pierre Daniel Beauperthuy; born December 6, 1783, in Guadeloupe and who died 1861 in St. Martin (No tombstone found). His wife was Marie Sauveur Desbonnes.
“After the death of Pierre Daniel, his eldest son Pierre Auguste (b. 1806 d. 1878) managed the estate. At the death of Pierre Auguste in 1878, his son Charles Daniel Esprit (b. 1861 -1935) our great grandfather was left to manage the estate. He bought his nephew and nieces’s shares and by prescription divided the rest of the shares with his seven children (St. Martin Heirs) by deed of 1931/ 1932. One of the seven was our grandfather (Louis Gaston Ferdinand) a.k.a “Fef” whom later transferred his deed in 1983 to his sons, Louis and Ruben Beauperthuy (notary: Gerald Mouial Notaire Associe).
“In 1973 a group of individuals living in France, Canada and Guadeloupe started a court action against the occupying St. Martin family. The lawyers and justice system have dragged their feet on these proceedings in court for 43 years. The French court appointed three administrators to present, and gave them rights to auction all properties, which they are presenting below market value price for special interest groups outside the island of St. Martin, specifically published in the France Antilles-Guadeloupe.
“The current appointed administrator had our deeds declared void in order to auction all properties occupied for over 100 years. Current heirs of both Ruben and Louis Beauperthuy have been told by the Notary on St. Martin that they will be noted as heirs to the administrator but no division can take place while the case is in process.
“Why was this individual chosen as the starting point? It seems a bit ridiculous to go back 155 years to claim a succession of people who have never resided on St. Martin. Yet the case was built in 1973, 112 years after the death of Pierre Daniel Beauperthuy, their starting point. The people who started this lawsuit have never lived or shown any interest in St. Martin/St. Maarten before these developments. And even now they are only going after the areas that have developed commercial value. They are not interested in hillside property.
“The current heirs in St. Martin received from the Marshall (SCP A. Cauchefer) notification to evacuate and return the property to its natural state, having 15 days to respond to the courthouse in Guadeloupe. This property is registered as AW 59 “Boo Boo Jam,” an area to be auctioned at 341,000 euros without any offer to the land holders to purchase.
“This is also where Ruben Beauperthuy’s home is built. In addition a 58-page document has been presented to the heirs outlining the next liquidations of all their properties ranging from after Leader Price supermarket in direction of Chambois Hill (with the exception of residence Baie Orientale properties in Jones’ Gut).
“Secondly, Louis Beauperthuy left provision in his will property for future development of a new Bethany Home for senior citizens, a condition that his estate is willing to honour and implement but may not be able to see his wishes benefit the community of St. Martin. Louis Beauperthuy and his wife Hilde Beauperthuy are buried at their home in this same area.
“Thirdly, Pierre Beauperthuy was murdered on March 3 and his estate received a notification on March 5 that the estate would be up for auction. Pierre Beauperthuy loved St. Martin and strove to create tourism opportunities for the Island by giving land to the Butterfly Farm, setting up an animal shelter and a horse riding area on his land, and beginning a plantation museum “Old House” honouring the hard labour of slaves who were brought to St. Martin against their will.
“This gave tourists things to see and do and helped in the economy of both the Dutch and French side. There is still no closure to his death or anyone charged in the slaying.
“Fourth point: The French administration (La SELARL BCM & Associates – Bauland, Carboni, Martinez & Associates, www.bcm-aj.com) is auctioning off properties without having title, but are arranging new titles for the foreign buyers. Meanwhile other local families that have built their properties on same Beauperthuy land that was sold by the St. Martin Commune years ago (Spring Community) cannot obtain title or deed to date.
“Fifth point: Zoning games are being played with the succession properties. They are to be sold as NDA/UT (nature reserve) then resold as commercial property. The Beauperthuy properties alone stretch from Leader Price Supermarket to Chambois Hill in French Quarter. St. Martin is our home. St. Martin land holders have a right to stay on their inherited land and make a living.
“This ongoing court battle is keeping St. Martiner’s from developing their land and making them pay 40 years and more of court costs just to stay on their land. They will be eventually thrown in the streets and in this way made homeless since they will be entitled to neither property nor their own homes.
“There is Island wide support for ‘Our Land matters’ to defend the Beauperthuy family of St. Martin in keeping their property and stopping the auctioning. We want you who live here and have similar issues to raise your voices. Let investors in and outside of St. Martin who want our valuable land know that we are not giving it up. It’s ours. Join us at https://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/our-land-matters. Pierre Beauperthuy was murdered on March 3, 2015.