Association Nature is Key President Juliette Irish (left) was presented with a medal by Minister of Overseas Territories Jean-François Carenco during his visit to the association in Sandy Ground on Tuesday. (Robert Luckock photo)
MARIGOT--Delegated Minister for the French Overseas Territories Jean-François Carenco spent the morning in Sandy Ground on Tuesday where he visited the District Council offices, Maison de Services au Publique (MSAP), and Association Nature is Key.
He was given an overview of Cité Éducative projects for Sandy Ground by project manager Kathy Africa. A call for projects is underway for the district for children and young adults up to the ages of 25, mostly concerning programmes for pre-school, after school and during school.
Minister of Overseas Territories Jean-François Carenco arrives at the district council offices in Sandy Ground with Préfet Vincent Berton. (Robert Luckock photo)
Carenco is given an overview of the swimming pool and aquatic centre project located next to Anse de Sable Residences in Sandy Ground. (Robert Luckock photo).
Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs (right) had a private meeting with the minister in the Préfecture Tuesday afternoon. (Robert Luckock photo)
Architectural drawing of the proposed swimming pool and aquatic centre in Sandy Ground.
A closed meeting was held in the district office with Carenco, Préfet Vincent Berton and President of the Collectivité Louis Mussington. Present for the meeting were the Webster brothers, their father Pierre Rodolphe Webster and district council representative Cédric André. Several subjects were raised, including the land sale debacle to which the Webster family was subjected and infrastructure in the district.
“We talked about the situation of the youth, land titles and the Webster case,” André said afterwards. “It’s only the local people that have these problems in Sandy Ground, St. James, Grand Case, a part of Cul-de-Sac and French Quarter, and this is a form of discrimination. We said a way has to be found to fix these problems, because it’s not good for the island.
“We need activities and job creation for young people. St. Martin people, especially the young people, have to be given priority for jobs in the future. If you don’t give the young people the opportunity nothing will advance.”
André said he got the impression the minister was genuinely concerned and willing to listen.
“He [the minister – Ed.]) said he doesn’t like injustices after listening to the Webster case. Now we are holding him to his word and to wait and see what he does and if anything changes. We also informed we are waiting for the report from the mission that is investigating the land issues in St. Martin.”
Next Carenco and his aides visited the headquarters of Association Nature is Key at 71A on the main road. The association was created in 2019 by its president Juliette Irish. It caters to children and adults and offers cultural activities, wellness, entertainment, education, homework assistance, animations, movies, music and dance and a focus on protecting the environment.
Its leisure centre caters to some 50 children while 17 children are currently enrolled in after-school activities in different age groups. The association has six salaried employees.
Carenco presented Irish with a medal recognising the association’s commitment to social cohesion in the overseas territories. Today, Wednesday, the association is organising a wellness day for seniors from 9:00am to 4:00pm with different activities in collaboration with association Objectif Réussite.
The last stop of the morning was a visit to the aquatic centre and swimming pool project on a parcel of land on the water next to the Anse de Sable Residences. The project by Club Nautique de Saint-Martin (CNSM), set to open in 2023, has been four years in the planning and is now a reality thanks to land given by Group Build Invest on a 15-year renewable lease.
Club Nautique President Bülent Gülay and Build Invest Operations Manager Hervé Dorvil gave explanations of the project. Also present for the presentation were Marc Fabre of Delegation Regional Académique a L’Engagement Jeunesse et Sports (DRAEJS) and Yann Lecam, President of Conseil Syndicale de la Residence Anse de Sable that gave its blessing for the project to be constructed next to its building.
Dutch-side Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs met with Carenco for about an hour in the Préfecture in the afternoon. Details of what was discussed were not immediately divulged.
