He further explained that all local politicians know from past experience that the State does not live up to its commitments. They would promise one thing and do something else. Bryan said he warned the people against this status but they did not pay attention. He explained that he was the former vice president of the financial council in the Region and he knew exactly what the island was getting, thus was the reason for the open warning.
The former deputy mayor said what is taking place on the French side is bigger than the elected officials that is now in office. He felt the President of the COM Frantz Gumbs and his team has fallen victims based on bad choices made by other politicians.
Bryan said authorities on the French side may have to implement custom control at the border if they are to regain the Octroi de Mer funds. However, he made it clear that the island and its people simply cannot afford such in its present economic crisis.
He said St. Martin did not pay into this fund over the years because it was not possible to do such with the Concordia Treaty. "While the people of Guadeloupe were paying import duties and were giving St. Martin its share. It was made clear from the beginning that the island would not benefit from the funds in the new setting (article 74) something the politicians knew but did not tell the people.
Bryan said politicians on St. Martin did not fully analyze the situation prior to encouraging the people to get out. They never did look at the budget and what the island was getting as a commune and what it would get under 74.
He further explained that St. Martin stands to loose much more monies and the politicians are still not coming clean. Bryan said in the past St. Martin had no responsibility on the collecting of taxes yet it was receiving from the State whatever it budgeted. "If we budget for 100 million it was given to us even if that amount was not collected on St. Martin. While today the island has to be content with whatever tax revenues it collects locally." He felt that the island and its people are being used as ‘lab rats' with article 74 an unfair position for a developing society. In conclusion Bryan warned that the people of St. Martin should brace themselves for harder times which are ahead of them.