MARIGOT--The Contrat de Ville 2015-2020 was signed Monday at a ceremony in Hotel de La Collectivité between the State, the Collectivité, and some twelve representatives of participating institutions.
The signing effectively puts into motion the “contrat cadre” signed July 28, under the scope of Politique de la Ville 2015-2020. That contract laid the framework for the Contrat de Ville for St. Martin.
The decree of December 30, 2014, redefined geographical areas to focus on poorer districts and established a priority list in the overseas territories, in which Sandy Ground and French Quarter in St. Martin were included. Both districts combined have a population of around 10,000 inhabitants.
In St. Martin’s case, the inclusion was based on factors such as the number of unemployed persons between 15 and 64 years in the districts, the number of inactive youths ages 18 to 25 not in school, the number of young people older than 15 years without any diplomas, the number of unsanitary lodgings, and the number of overcrowded homes.
The contributions are 250,000 euros from the State, and increase of 9,000 euros from the previous year, and an additional 150,000 euros from the Collectivité. The amount granted is not necessarily the same each year but has to be negotiated.
Préfète Anne Laubies indicated the fundamental objective of Politique de la Ville is access to employment. Other objectives in the programme include social cohesion, educational success, parental assistance, access to rights, access to culture, sports, health, activities, beautification of districts, security, economic development, and social and professional insertion.
The services of the Collectivité and the Préfecture worked on a plan of action in collaboration with consulting firm Urbis to evaluate both districts. In May, technicians from the Collectivité and Préfecture identified problems based on five themes; education, lodgings, delinquency prevention, social services and health.
In June and July both districts were asked to submit projects on the subjects of youth, equality of men and women, and prevention of all forms of discrimination. Other themes can include fighting illiteracy, or projects for sports and culture, social harmony.
Co-signatories to the multi-partnership agreement included representatives from Social Security, Caisse d’Allocation Familiale (CAF), Recteur of Guadeloupe Camille Galap, Regional Director of Pôle Emploi Jean- Jacques Gustave, Guadeloupe Prosecutor Samuel Finielz, President of the Chamber of Commerce Jean Arnell, and the representatives of District One and Six, Stephen Patrick and Georges Richardson respectively.
Each partner will be financing a project relative to their domain in the two districts of French Quarter and Sandy Ground. The policy is to get partners to put their focus and money in areas that have been targeted as in need.
“The purpose is to give more attention to Sandy Ground and French Quarter, explained First Vice-President Guillaume Arnell. “There’s always been a feeling that those two districts are not close enough to the centre of decision-making. With this agreement, actions and projects will be implemented on behalf of the young people in terms of programmes to reinstate them to a point where they can be eligible for the job market. The projects will have to be validated by the Territorial Council.”
