Pinel Island: --- Workers of the Reserve Naturelle (Natural Reserve) were seen mixing cement on Pinel Island as they build a small shed with tables and benches. Owner of several hectares of the Pinel Island Emile Larmonie is angry at the fact that members of the Natural Reserve are allowed to build on the island using cement and steal. Larmonie told reporters on Thursday that he was fined 50,000 francs ($10,000) some ten years ago when he tried to build a shed for fishermen on that island.Larmonie said that even though he owned much of the land, government declared that Pinel Island is part of the domain land. He produced an attestation that is signed by the President of the Collectivity of St. Martin that states that Pinel Island is located in a natural zone and the Collectivity neither the commune in its days never issued any building permits neither did they give anyone permission to be on Pinel Island. Based on the attestation Larmonie wants to know if COM has changed its rules and suddenly granted a building permit to those of the Natural Reserve.
Larmonie said he has been trying to find out if the Natural Reserve received a building permit to construct the shed they said is for everyone. He said he wants to know if a building permit was granted to foreigners while St. Martiners are being penalized when they build or even try to use the beach. Larmonie said a few days ago members of the Natural Reserve fined some students that were camping on the beach, "the students had to pay Euros 50 for the space they occupy with a tent. Right now the locals have no place on the beaches, neither the sea" He said the natural reserve is even charging people money to snorkel around Pinel Island.
Larmonie who is also vice president of the Grand Case/ Cul de Sac community council said he sent letters to both the Natural Reserve and the President of the Collectivity to free up two of the beaches so locals can use them, but to date he has not received any response from either party.Efforts made to contact the President of the Natural Reserve proved futile up to press time.