SXMElections.com

MARIGOT--President of the Collectivité Aline Hanson has extended her condolences to the family and friends of the late Alain Tochou whose funeral took place Friday.

Tochou (83) passed away during the night of Monday and Tuesday morning last week.

"It is with great sadness that I learned of the death of Alain Tochou," she said in a statement. "He was a friend of St. Martin; he wasn't content with just loving this island, he contributed to its prosperity by employing his human and professional skills in the service of the political and economical life of the island.

"He was much appreciated for his kindness and life style, and one of the extraordinary personalities who witnessed an exciting era in this island's development. He was a personal friend to many of us, a charismatic figure, who will be remembered with great fondness. On my own behalf and on behalf of the Territorial Council of St. Martin, I would like to address my most sincere condolences to the family, loved ones, and friends of Alain Tochou."

Alain Tochou was a former president of the French-side hoteliers association and a former Honorary President of the UMP territorial federation in St. Martin at the time Louis-Constant Fleming was the president. He was involved with the Chamber of Commerce at the time Raymond Helligar was president. Tochou was also remembered as a respected hotelier having managed several PLM hotels in the Caribbean, and was lately better known as "caretaker" of the defunct Happy Bay Hotel.

Condolences were also expressed by MP Daniel Gibbs and President of the Chamber of Commerce, Jean Arnell.