MARIGOT–President Daniel Gibbs confirmed on November 13 the Collectivité filed a “contentious appeal” to the Administrative Court in Basse Terre to suspend the current version of the natural risk prevention plan PPRN, the hearing for which is set for December 5.
Gibbs had already filed an appeal with the Préfecture on September 17 objecting to the Préfète signing a decree to implement the PPRN in advance “by anticipation.” He added at this stage, the final document has not yet been adopted, which means for now the Collectivité is only able to take legal action against the early adoption of the decree of August 6. He said as of November 22 no response to the appeal had been received.
“The consequences of applying this document as it stands would indeed be dramatic for us, the inhabitants of St. Martin, and for the maintenance of economic activities in the French part of the island. And it would hinder the tourism revival of the territory,” he said in his opening address to the Territorial Council.
“As I have already stated, I am open to any initiative to modify and improve this PPRN. Because, as I said before, we are not opposed to improving our PPRN to take into account the effects of Irma, and this for the simple purpose of protecting our population. But I repeat, we do not want this version of the PPRN, made in haste and confidentiality.
“It is a document imposed from above, without listening to the unanimous voice of the elected representatives of the Collectivité, without taking into account the realities and needs of this territory and, above all, the St. Martin people. For more than a year now the people feel despised, outraged, dispossessed.
“The public inquiry took place in October; I obviously had a long meeting with the investigating commissioners. We are now awaiting their report and conclusions. At the same time, in a constructive, benevolent and inclusive approach, we set up our own local consultation. We organised three meetings of the Steering Committee COPIL bringing together the island’s main political, economic and social stakeholders.
“We held 16 meetings of the Technical Committees (COTECH), open to the public, where participants were able to share their observations and recommendations. I am convinced more than ever – and the current situation which we, as elected representatives, are confronted with, confirms this to me –, that our unity on major issues must be total, sincere and sustainable. Especially when it comes directly to economic development, social stability and societal cohesion in our territory. We owe it to our people.”
The Council unanimously adopted the motion to endorse the collaborative work, including contributions particularly from hotel professionals and the Council of Architecture, Urban Planning and Environment of Guadeloupe CAUE. The consolidated contributions were given to the investigating commissioners as part of the public inquiry on October 31. Other partners also submitted contributions individually.
Recently Minister of Overseas Territories Annick Girardin agreed that St. Martin needed extra time to improve the document, but as yet there has been no follow up. The Collectivité is aiming to win additional time, up to the start of the 2020 hurricane season, to finalise not only a hazard map but to draft regulation implementing a PPRN that does not jeopardise St. Martin and the St. Martin people.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/92792-collectivite-filed-contentious-appeal-with-administrative-court-to-suspend-pprn
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