French Overseas Territories Minister Annick Girardin (left) and President Daniel Gibbs sign the Convergence and Transformation Contract on Monday as Députée for St. Martin and St. Barths Claire Guion-Firmin (right) looks on. (Robert Luckock photo)
French Overseas Minister Annick Girardin (foreground, third left) visited the site of the now-demolished former Thelbert Carti Stadium in French Quarter, the reconstruction of which the State is co- financing. She also heard some of the issues affecting residents. One complaint was the absence of a Post Office which causes inconvenience for citizens and the elderly who have to go to the Marigot Post Office for their mail and other business. (Robert Luckock photo)
MARIGOT--French Overseas Territories Minister Annick Girardin and Collectivité President Daniel Gibbs co-signed the 2019-2022 Convergence and Transformation Contract which sees the State and the Collectivité pool 159 million euros on a number of important projects for the territory, to be used by 2021.
The Convergence Contract comprises a number of contracts to define and co-finance projects to reduce the development gap between St. Martin and France and to respect 17 sustainable development objectives, as well as other specific needs. It is the main driver of the 215-million-euro Multi-Year Investment Plan 2019-2023 and is fully integrated as a main source of financing.
Girardin made the brief stop in St. Martin as part of an official visit to French Guiana today, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
The two priorities that led to development of the Convergence and Transformation contract were financing for post-Hurricane Irma reconstruction, and modernisation of infrastructure projects in priority neighbourhoods and tourist sectors.
The State’s contribution to the Convergence Contract is 47.2 million euros and the Collectivité’s contribution 31.45 million euros. Other State credits and European credits will come into play to complete the financing.
The Convergence and Transformation Contract co-finances the following main projects: redevelopment of public spaces of Marigot and Grand Case for 6.85 million euros (includes 3.4 million euros of State co-financing); redevelopment of the Marigot waterfront for 6 million euros (includes 2.5 million euros of State co-financing); reconstruction of the Omnisport Hall, including a hurricane shelter, 6.2 million euros (includes 6 million euros of State co-financing); reconstruction of Thelbert Carti Stadium in French Quarter for 3.48 million euros (includes 1.7 million euros of State co-financing); waste management and environmental actions for 3.1 million euros (includes 2 million euros of State co-financing); renovation of French Quarter College for 8.85 million euros (includes 3.15 million of State co-financing); road network rehabilitation works for 8.6 million euros (includes 2.24 million of State co-financing); rainwater management for 3.05 million euros (includes 2.025 million euros of State co-financing); video surveillance protection for 1.27 million euros (includes 600,000 euros of State co-financing).
Girardin said St. Martin is the last of the overseas territories to have its Convergence Contract validated, due in part to some “misunderstandings” with the State.
