Marigot: --- It is the first time in St. Martin’s history and the celebration of Bastille Day that the celebration was based on the formalities and not the true meaning of celebrating July 14th. Besides the dignitaries and those that organized or participated in the day’s event there was hardly anyone witnessing the ceremony. A traditional church service was held at the Marigot Catholic Church after which the wreath laying ceremony at the monument for the war veterans. During the wreath laying ceremony attentions had to be shifted after an elderly man accompanying the veterans fell due to the intense heat.
Dignitaries from both side of the island as well as Anguilla and Guadeloupe had to braze the hot sun with its intense heat over to the market place to look at three costume parade which was terribly organized.
Dignitaries were overheard asking if they can at least get some cold water as they wait for the parade to begin. Some wondering when the parade would start as they were seeking shelter at the individual stands. The gendarmes and the military were the first to begin the parade then a long pause before the other two troops got close. Shortly after the dignitaries who seemed disappointed walked back over to the Collectivity where the official speeches were given. Sources say the troops did not come out since most of the monies for the Bastille Day Celebration were given to the organizers of the Caribbean Festival who held their final parade on July 14th.
President of the Collectivity Frantz Gumbs based his speech on its theme “Protecting and Preserving the Environment”. Gumbs said he had said when he was appointed that focus has to be placed on the environment which needs to be cleaned up. He spoke of the amount of car wrecks that were removed from the streets of St. Martin which he believed would assist in decreasing delinquency.
Senator Louis Constant Fleming in his speech had more of message for the State, Fleming said St. Martin already has its new status, and there should be no discussion on which article of the French constitution should govern the island. He said the organic law has to be upgraded with changes. He said the government would present a new draft of the organic law in October where some of the changes would be realized. Fleming said he wants the State to know that some of the laws they are seeking to implement on St. Martin would be detrimental to the island and it would not be possible for those laws to take effect locally if the people are not consulted. The senator said St. Martin has to remain vigilant. He called on the population to act more responsibly when speaking on behalf of the island. He cautioned that bringing down the island would not help it.
While the Deputy of the Region Victorin Laurell obviously attended the ceremony to begin his political campaign as he is sure looking for a third term in office. Laurell said that while the two islands St. Martin and St. Barths are seeking to have their own deputies, that to him is not necessary however, that has to be decided by the men and women of the islands. Laurel said the next election for the deputy seat would bring about some frustration however, his hope is that the text on these elections will be respected. Laurell also called on the island to capitalize on their riches of being multilingual.
The deputy said right now they are trying to make sure all Lycees in Guadeloupe engage in exchange programs so that students can become bilingual before leaving high school. Something that can happen on St. Martin also. Laurel said Guadeloupe is looking in opening a school for political science since they already have agreements with several of the Caribbean islands. While this maybe a school of political science the deputy said this should be viewed as a business opportunity. He felt that it is necessary to give students on St. Martin and Guadeloupe the opportunity to study abroad just as is done in Dominica and Libya. Laurel said the Regional Council already put the monies to the disposal of schools in Guadeloupe to introduce a system of inviting English speaking schools to their Lycees in Basseterre. Laurell feels all of this would contribute to sustainable development. He also felt that more can be done to further develop the cultures of the three islands.