The meeting in progress on Wednesday. (Robert Luckock photo)
MARIGOT--At the latest meeting on Wednesday between the collective of collectives, Préfet Serge Gouteyron, President Daniel Gibbs, and Webster family members, Gibbs said he had requested a meeting with the Ministry of Justice in Paris to find solutions to the Webster land sale debacle and on the land question in general pertaining to other parcels in St. Martin
“I can’t go against a court decision, but I can go to the highest level, the Ministry of Justice, for assistance and to obtain justice in this matter,” he said at the meeting, referring to the court’s decision to auction land. “The machine needs to stop until we have a solution.
“I can only do what I can do within the limits of my competences, and with the agreement of the Webster family. The préfet also agrees with me that this is the right approach. Clearly there is a problem that needs to be solved. It’s not just a Webster problem, but a problem for the whole territory.”
The Webster family have expressed the wish to be present for the Paris meeting where they can present their documents, if and when it is confirmed. Gouteyron said the buyer of the Webster land has agreed to meet with the Webster family, but there has been no answer so far to his request for the administrator to come to St. Martin, or for any further auctions to be postponed.
The collectives in the meeting questioned why the Senator (Annick Pétrus) and Deputée (Claire Javois-Firmin) are not involved in the matter. The discussions to find a solution continue.
