A tour of the abattoir was given to the media and elected officials on Wednesday. (Robert Luckock photo)
MARIGOT--President of the public establishment for the management and operation of the St. Martin slaughterhouse (Établissement public de Gestion et d’Exploitation de l’Abattoir de Saint-Martin (EGEA)) Valérie Fonrose invited the press to the site in Grand Case on Wednesday to present the facility and invite livestock owners and meat retailers to use this regulated structure, which is now operational.
Accompanied by Député (Member of Parliament) for Saint-Martin/Saint-Barths Frantz Gumbs, Territorial Councillor Alain Gros-Désormeaux, Head of Veterinary Services Michel Vely and Director of the slaughterhouse Elie Touzé, Fonrose recalled the efforts made by the Collectivité, with the support of the State, to put the facility back into working order, to structure the livestock industry and respond to the breeders’ needs.
The approval obtained on October 5 allowed the slaughterhouse to re-open on October 18 after several years of inactivity. The structure is gradually resuming its activity, but with only a slaughter frequency of one animal per week.
The EGEA management company, under the leadership of Valérie Fonrose, wishes to diversify the slaughterhouse’s activities, including the installation of a cutting and meat-aging workshop.
A project management mission is currently underway to meet the objectives of the elected officials who want this structure to resume its missions and that slaughter of livestock is structured on the territory in respect of animals intended for consumption.
Breeders and meat retailers as well as cooperatives are therefore called on to use the slaughterhouse for the slaughter of cattle and goats. Slaughter premiums are applied and contribute to structuring the sector.
The Collectivité, EGEA and State services are working together to organise the livestock industry in the territory in a sustainable manner and to provide concrete and regulatory responses.
