Marigot: --- The Citizens Movement headed by Julien Gumbs has gone one step further in making sure they comply with the laws of the land to fully represent the people of St. Martin. The association was registered with fifteen founding members said president of the Association Julien Gumbs at a press conference on Tuesday at the Chamber of Commerce.
Gumbs said over the past year they have been speaking against several issues which have been affecting the people of the island and no one paid heed to what they were saying. However, in each instance the movement was right in what they said. Gumbs said that their first cause was against the road tax the Collectivity of St. Martin forced on the population illegally. He explained that despite having enough signatures the Collectivity did not make any adjustment to the road tax legislation.
Gumbs said that since the association was not legalized there was nothing much they could have done legally. "Now that we have a legal body behind us we can take matters to court as well as collecting donations to continue the fight in the best interest of the people. Gumbs said that the local people have to be part of the process of developing the island instead of being pushed aside. He made clear that the association is willing to negotiate and participate in the projects. "We want to be able to give our advice and opinion from the beginning and not just protest when the decisions are made.
He said the association is not only there to just protest against things instead they also want to be part of the happenings. "If we are invited to participate then we would be there for the people and the country. One of the things the founding members don't want is to be received by the leaders and not heard." Gumbs said that they were received in the past and they would sit and talk for hours and after that nothing happens. This he said has to end because the association now has what it takes to legally address the issues.
Gumbs said that several people criticized them when they stood against the road tax but to date the Collectivity cannot impose any fine to anyone who did not pay their 2008 road tax.
Furthermore he said only last week the Territorial Council voted a request to the State where fines can be imposed. Maybe the State may put the necessary legislation in place for 2009.
Nomination of Laurent Fuentes to National Social Economic Council
The nomination of Laurent Fuentes is something the Association would be seeking clarity on since he Fuentes was nominated to the position illegally. Gumbs said.
Gumbs said that they requested from Delegated Prefet Dominique LaCroix the endorsements from the business community who endorsed Fuentes and they realized Rene Arnell received more support than Fuentes yet he Fuentes was nominated illegally. However, LaCroix released this information after the contesting time passed. (Rene Arnell received five endorsements while Fuentes got four). Gumbs said.
Leo Petit said that they were not against Fuentes instead they had serious doubts in the nomination. He said that the Prefet finally gave them all the information which was in the Prefet's position yet he allowed the nomination. He said that they are going to find out if the people are living in a French Republic and not a "Banana Republic. "Something wrong went on and we are determined to find out who do it what they did to get Fuentes where he is. Asked if they confronted LaCroix about their discovery of the endorsements, Gumbs said that they intend to do just that now that the association is registered. One of the things the movement would be seeking is to have Rene Arnell installed in the position since the State or the Ministry would have to respect the rules they laid down for the nomination.
Tourist Office Saga....
Petit said that they also questioned the illegalities that are presently taking place in the tourist office and to date they were not given a straight answer's. One of those illegalities is the hiring of the director who was just fired Yann Claeysen. He said they were no bidding process for the vacancy and yet this person was hired. Petit also congratulated the President of the EPIC Board Ida Zin Ka Ieu who did what was necessary to correct the problems there. Petit said that they would not be leaving the affair of the Tourist Office to die out instead they would be following the developments closely.
Questions he said were raised on the firing of long time employees and they requested a round table meeting with all parties but were not granted.
"One of the things we would be seeking to know is why Vice President Daniel Gibbs is holding on to the Tourism Portfolio. Gumbs said he does not think Gibbs have the necessary qualification to manage tourism. The members of the association said that they want to know if Gibbs has personal interest in the tourist office. "Already there is mismanagement of public funds, alleged fraud and much more." Gumbs said.
Economic Crisis --- Nothing Done Despite March
Petit said another concern is the current economic crisis that is plaguing the French side of the island. He said they organized a march in the hope that the local government as well as the State representative would have done something to address the needs of the businesses. "One year has passed and so far nothing is done to revive the businesses. At the end of each month one or two of the businesses have been closing down, leaving Marigot into a ghost town." Petit said the time has come for the local government as well as State needs to do something to provide relief.
What's wrong with the Press?
Another concern for the movement is the way the press operates on the French side. Leo Petit said that he has some serious questions to the media personalities that are operating on the island. He said while there are number of irregularities within the governing system, nothing is printed in the French newspapers. "I want to know if there are pressures placed on the reporters because it is amazing how the information is not getting out to the people. Is the freedom of press being hampered by threats or what is happening is what the movement wants to know.