MARIGOT—Blockades on the RN7 in Orient Bay, one near the Cadisco Station and the other near French Quarter, were reportedly removed by Gendarmes last night around 9:30pm after close to five hours of negotiations with Préfète Anne Laubies and Collectivité officials failed to bring an immediate resolution to the on-going dispute with local proprietors of the new Orient Beach restaurants.
Organisers of the protest however indicated they will put back the barricades today unless the Collectivité can produce positive signs to move the negotiations forward.
At least three local proprietors have been at loggerheads with the Collectivité for months over what they claim is an unfinished project, and subsequently have refused to sign contracts and pay the now reduced rent of 2,200 euros per month.
The road was blocked from 7:00am on Wednesday but there was no reaction from Collectivité elected officials as there had been on the previous zoning plan demonstration in October 2015. Only a few supporters were at each barricade.
Many tourists stuck in the Orient Beach area were seen walking through the barriers at both locations with their luggage, evidently on their way to the airport.
Wednesday was also the start of the SXMusic Festival at Palm Beach, in Orient Bay from midday to midnight with many journalists on island for it but no vehicle access was possible to that beach most of the day. The protestors claimed they were unaware of the music concert taking place at Palm Beach.
Préfète Anne Laubies asked the protestors in the morning to take down the barriers, indicating they had not given sufficient notice of the demonstration in time as required by law but this did not have any effect.
She did however get them to agree to a meeting in the Préfecture at 2:30pm after her first suggestion of a meeting on March 15 was rejected.
The Orient Beach delegation was supported by members of the collective “Saint-Martin Wake-Up” indicating it had united with that group to draw attention not only to the Orient Beach situation but also to other unresolved issues concerning the zoning plan (PLU), the 50 pas Géometriques, Le Galion, Grand Case Beach, and Grand Case Airport etc.
In the meeting with the Orient Beach delegation were Préfète Anne Laubies with her secretary and assistants, Vice-President Wendel Cocks, Cabinet Director for President Aline Hanson, Pierre Brangé, and St. Martin Tourism Office President Jeanne Rogers-Vanterpool.
At a break in the meeting around 5:30pm the Orient Beach delegation came out to brief reporters.
District One representative Steven Patrick indicated the delegation demanded the restaurant rent be waived for nine months--the length of time the beach tenants say they have been out of work--and for the Collectivité to agree that during those nine months the terms and conditions of the contract, and rent, will be re-negotiated, and they get the keys to start operating their business straight away.
“The Collectivité has forced us into this situation,” said Patrick. “Our backs are against the wall, we want a solution today, not next week. The other grievances can be addressed next week. But what it can do is produce a clear memorandum of understanding that can be voted in the Executive Council outlining how we are going to solve the problem. But the Collectivité hasn’t proposed any solution so far.
“The Préféte is only concerned about the concert on Palm Beach and for that event to go off smoothly. But we have local problems that need to be fixed. We are suffering. Fix our local problems first and then have as many concerts as you want. It’s in the interest of everyone to lift the blockades but both parties have to be satisfied.”
The meeting ended at 7:00pm. A brief press release from the Préfecture last night following the meeting confirmed “no agreement had been reached.”
It was understood a meeting is still on for Tuesday March 15 to continue negotiations. The Collectivité in the meantime reportedly needs legal advice to modify aspects of the contracts.
