St.martin—“France via the Préfète does not recognize or take into consideration the reality of this territory or give value to the Treaty of Concordia which dates back some 400 years ago and which was signed by France and Holland,” the former president of the Collectivité Alain Richardson says. He stated that the Treaty of Concordia is a binding legal document that supersedes national law.
The former president was reacting to statements made by Préfète Déléguée Anne Labies who considered the press conference that was held with members of the French media corps at the Chamber of Commerce in Concordia last week with MP Leona Romeo-Marlin last week as illegal.
“When one reads the statement that was put out by the Préfète that indicates it was totally illegal and goes on to say that she will be paying keen attention to things such as these, it means that France is making an effort to pull St. Martin fully under its wings in the sense of a French setting,” said Richardson. He pointed out that it seems as though France will do this with utter disregard to the Treaty of Concordia or any other binding document.
He mentioned that as a political leader this statement by Labies “sends again another clear message that we must resist this and dispute. This kind of attitude has no consideration to the ties that bind the people of this island and also is intended to “send a wedge between the peoples of both sides of the island.”
He noted that there are some 1,700 people residing on the French side who have dual citizenship and vote on both sides of the island. These persons are among the voters in the September 26 elections and they are enough to secure two seats in the parliament on the Dutch side and thus remain an important part of the electorate.
Préfète Labies out of place with remarks about press conference
