President Gibbs chats with the owners of Hévéa Guest House in Grand Case.
MARIGOT–President Daniel Gibbs undertook a series of visits to tourism establishments on Friday, April 6, to assess progress with reconstruction and to exchange views with business owners and the population.
It was the second such field visit, now eight months after Irma, since the first one when the territory was still in the emergency phase. While in regular contact with the hoteliers, Gibbs chose to go to Grand Case to meet two owners of guesthouses who will soon start their reconstruction work. He also made a stop on Orient Beach where the beach restaurants will be rebuilt and boarded the ferry to Pinel Island where he met the two restaurateurs who have just reopened their establishment. Other visits of this type are planned in all sectors of the island, to meet professionals and the population.
Throughout these visits, Gibbs wanted to see for himself the projects of these professionals and the work undertaken or to start. On Grand Case Boulevard, he visited the guesthouse Hévéa, which has already re-opened but is in need of renovation, and the guesthouse Free Breeze, where the owner has to rebuild his roof and interiors. These are major projects led by determined and motivated professionals to relaunch their activity.
The new Bikini Beach restaurant under construction on Orient Beach. Kon Tiki, Waikiki, Kakao and Coco are to follow.
On Orient Bay Beach, Sindextour has started work on the new beach restaurant Bikini Beach on the Collectivité’s AW33 parcel. Four building permits were issued to Sindextour so far for the reconstruction of Kakao Beach, Waikiki Beach and Kon Tiki. Coco Beach will also be rebuilt to put the Five Stars back in complete operation.
The Collectivité is also working on the “carbet” rehabilitation project on parcel AW34, the objective of which is to enable those holders of temporary occupation permits AOTs to restart their activity for the next tourist season.
On Pinel Island, Gibbs met the owner of Yellow Beach restaurant which reopened 15 days ago after rebuilding of the entire structure. The same is true of Karibuni, which has just reopened its doors after a total renovation of the restaurant.
The schools visited were either badly damaged by Irma or completely destroyed. However, Gibbs encouraged the principals of these establishments in their reconstruction process.
With regard to recommendations of the Department of Urban Planning regarding reconstruction, beach establishments are authorized to build a solid concrete part of the restaurant for kitchen, storage of equipment, etc., in the event of a hurricane alert, and a part of the restaurant that can easily be disassembled and stored, i.e. tables, chairs, umbrellas.
President Gibbs at Karibuni Restaurant on Pinel island.
The Collectivité’s provisional 2018 budget provides aid for the reconstruction of guesthouses and aid to the affected companies, with the support of European funds. Visits will continue in the coming weeks to work as closely as possible with professionals for their needs and to exchange regularly with them.
It should be noted that a budget will also be allocated to help rebuild roofs for individuals in a precarious situation, before the next hurricane season starts. Terms and conditions for this community assistance are being developed. Field visits to meet the inhabitants concerned are also scheduled between now and the end of June.
Gibbs was accompanied on the visits by his Assistant Cabinet Director François Xavier Binvel, Sustainable Development Department Director Romain Perreau and Service Urbanisme Director Sabrina Placidoux.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/75431-president-gibbs-on-field-visits-to-orient-beach-guesthouses
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