The court-ordered liquidation of SEM Air Antilles, pronounced on April 27th by the Pointe-à-Pitre Commercial Court, continues to cause turmoil. Meeting on Saturday, June 27th, the elected members of the territorial council had to address the financial consequences of this failure by adopting a resolution aimed at protecting the interests of the Collectivity and bringing its accounts into compliance. Presented as a legal obligation, the matter quickly devolved into a political settling of scores.
€20,2 million committed, €14,9 million to be written off
Léonie Flanders, director of legal affairs, recalled that the COM had committed 20,2 million within the SEM: 1,2 M€ to the capital, 6 M€ advance on current account and 13 M€ loans. Nearly 19 million will now have to be declared as liabilities in the liquidation.
The services offer an accounting depreciation of 16,3 M€brought back to 14,9 M€ in the supplementary budget after deduction of provisions already made (€1,4 million). According to the Director General of Services, Natacha Pétrine, discussions with the liquidator suggest a recovery of 20 to 30% loans through the sale of assets (aircraft, furniture), with banking institutions remaining the priority in the order of creditors.
"You knew": the opposition on the offensive
For the opposition, this regularization comes far too late. Marie-Dominique Ramphort believes that the risk had been identified for several months and that the 2025 accounts should have included these potential losses, especially since the SEM's financial diagnosis was known to the executive as early as November 2025, but was only communicated to all elected officials last May.
Jules Charville accused the majority of continuing funding despite the warnings. Yes, you are to blame. " he said to Louis Mussington, repeating the anaphora "Blame me for…" employed by the president at the start of the session. Mélissa Rembotte, for her part, requested explanations regarding the disbursement of the latest loan. 3 M€, while the company's financial situation had already deteriorated significantly.
The mystery of "New Air Antilles" resurfaces
The debates also reignited the controversy surrounding the creation of the SEM. Jules Charville asserts that the company registered on October 18, 2023 under the name “SEM Air Antilles” would not correspond to the “SEM New Air Antilles” approved by the territorial council on September 20th. Alleging possible forgery, he requested the production of the corresponding resolution. Angeline Laurence asked for the review of the file to be suspended pending verification, while Alain Richardson pledged to carry out the necessary checks. Senator Annick Pétrus also called for access to the documents filed with the clerk's office in order to "clear up any doubt once and for all." Despite repeated requests from the opposition, no documents were presented during the session.
An accounting obligation, according to the executive branch.
Louis Mussington reminded everyone that, " whether it's New Air Antilles or Air Antilles The vote focused primarily on an accounting obligation arising from the judicial liquidation. However, it did not rule out possible legal action against those who might have misleads the community " in this file.
The deliberation was finally Adopted by 13 votes in favor, 2 against, and 3 abstentions.Behind this technical vote, the Air Antilles case is far from having completed its flight plan.
