This is the article published in the newspaper "Midi-Libre" which sparked things off. Guy Durand, the Mayor of the town of Millau in the southwest of France is concerned about the presence in the downtown area of a community of young Antilleans coming for the most part from Saint-Martin, that he says he has difficulty to integrate. Therefore these statements prompted the reaction of the regional councilor of French Guiana, who sent a letter to the Overseas Minister and the Senate.
This article published in "Midi Libre" attracted the attention of the UMP regional councilor of French Guiana, Christiane Ichoung Thoe Finance, who is concerned about such stigmatization of these young Saint-Martiners living in Millau, This elected politician who had already reacted on the occasion of the Vialatte case, alerted the Overseas Minister Victorin Lurel and reported this situation to the president of the Overseas Department intergroup of the senate, Georges Patient.
In her letter sent to the Overseas Minister, who was present in Saint-Martin no later than Monday, Christiane Ichoung-Thoe-Finance, is concerned "about the stigmatization and communitarianism which these overseas French young people are victims within institutional agencies such as the CLSPD". [Local Council of Security and Prevention of Delinquency] "In my capacity as an Overseas elected representative of the Region of French Guiana, she continued, I request from your Ministry to have a special look at understanding exactly why these French youths are stigmatized and communitarized in this commune, and why their presence or stay on the commune territory is creating a problem".
The article published last week by Midi-Libre referred to an inquiry carried out into the community and disclosed at the meeting of the CLSPD. "The dismantling of an important traffic of cocaine from the French Antilles (Midi Libre of 21 and 22 May) managed to deteriorate even further the image of young Antilleans established in the downtown area in the eyes of the local population", the newspaper explained, adding that the inquiry focused on young adults and minors originating from the Overseas departments and territories and arriving in Millau without any adult representatives". According to the mayor Guy Durand, 54 youths have been listed, all involved in the Local Mission [State association in charge of the professional and social integration of young people from 16 to 25 years old]. "The first Saint-Martiners arrived a few years ago in order to follow training at the vocational High School. And then visibly there was a message about a "Millau Eldorado" and many other youths came. But now, it has slowed down", he added.
A MESSAGE FOR THE AUTHORITIES IN SAINT-MARTIN
The working group in charge of the file intends to work with the authorities of origin in order to sensitize the families with the youth's difficulties in France. The town of Millau is in crisis, and cannot welcome youths without training, a population that has difficulty to integrate. That is the message that we want to send to the authorities in Saint-Martin. This community, not more than the others, can make their own law", Guy Durand indicated in the Midi-Libre newspaper.
The elected representatives of Saint-Martin have not yet been contacted by the mayor of Millau, who forgets that Saint-Martin is France and that young Saint-Martiners are totally free to live in the French region of their choice, including Aveyron. The territorial collectivity of S isn'it itself Saint-Martin a welcoming laplace for many French people from France. NL
Original French article in St. Martin's Week N° 1453 bis, Wednesday, June 5, 2013
