Marigot:--- Prefet Philippe Chopin and some members of his cabinet took a tour of the island on Monday particularly to meet with landowners on St. Martin who are willing to make their lands available to re-develop sustainable agriculture on St. Martin.
Prefet Chopin met the first set of land owners at the French Quarter cultural center where he informed them that he met with the association members of Patrimoine Agricole Past and Present, headed by Rose Rumit who informed him that the former Sous Prefet of St. Martin Maurice Michaux had hired the association to spearhead a project for sustainable development mainly in agriculture on St. Martin in 2006.
Rumit said that some years ago the former Sous Prefet visited her plantation and he hired Patrimoine Agricole Past and Present to spearhead the re-development of Agriculture on St. Martin. Rumit explained that she received official documentation from the State on April 27th 2007 informing her that she was officially hired. At the time, the FEDAR made available some 120 million Euros for the re-development of Agriculture on St. Martin. However, elected officials at the Collectivity of St. Martin did everything in their power to prevent Rumit from accessing the monies. Rumit also participated in several courses in Martinique to make her fully qualified for agricultural projects, but despite her efforts she was blocked by elected politicians that were heading the Collectivity during the past five years.
Prefet Chopin told the land owners that he is tasked with re-developing certain projects for the island which would create employment for the younger generation. He said together with the President of the Collectivity of St. Martin he is working on re-developing agriculture on the French side of the island. Chopin said after meeting with Rumit he is of the opinion that agriculture would create a number of opportunities for the younger generation and others that are interested in working in the field of agriculture. Chopin further explained that his intention is to help the land owners to obtain funding from Europe to develop agriculture on St. Martin. Chopin said monies are available for these projects, but those interested would have to work hand in hand with him to develop these projects to obtain the funding. "I am of the opinion that the people of St. Martin (land owners) don't know all their rights on how to obtain subventions to develop their ideas and projects. One way is to work closely with the Collectivity to show that you can provide job opportunities to others if assistance through subventions is given. The idea is bring agriculture to a higher level."
Chopin also explained that the Collectivity and butchers are facing a huge problem with the abattoir that was built in Grand Case. "I am working diligently on solving this problem and if everything goes well then the problem regarding the abattoir will be solved by the end of the year. The first thing I began working on when I arrived on St. Martin is the abattoir and now I am ready to work with you the land owners to show you how to obtain European funding to develop agriculture on St. Martin." Chopin made clear that he cannot meet with everyone but he is willing to have a group of people meet one of the civil servants in Guadeloupe that is handling the dossiers that would advance their programs. Land owners were advised to submit their documents pertaining to the ownership of their lands so that the dossier can be put together. Chopin said that he already indicated to the Prefet of Guadeloupe that he wants him to meet this group of people on his next working visit to St. Martin.
When asked by SMN News if the monies that were allocated to Patrimoine Agricole Past and Present was still available. Prefet Chopin said he was not even aware of the project until he met with the association members. Chopin also told members of the media that he cannot even find the dossier that was submitted by Rose Rumit on behalf of her association. Therefore, the mission on Monday was to gather information from land owners and those that are interested in re-developing agriculture so that he could present a new dossier to Guadeloupe and these monies can be made available for agriculture. "The dossier of 2006 is an old one and the monies that were awarded for the project were used up elsewhere, so that is why we have to revamp the project by creating a new dossier. I can tell you monies are available and if the work is done correctly then these subventions will be made available to St. Martin." One of the landowners made clear to Chopin that they have no confidence in the elected politicians because they were already told that it is not possible for them to get subventions to do agriculture on St. Martin. Chopin said that St. Martin must go through Guadeloupe to obtain European funding for agricultural projects. He said there is hard work ahead for him because no one worked on the files that were already approved in 2006 and therefore those files are now closed. Chopin also made clear that even though the funding is coming from the State for these projects he is obliged to work with the Collectivity to make it a reality. He also said that the State and Europe will be the ones in charge of delegating the monies.
The landowners took Prefet Chopin to one area in French Quarter where a notary from the Dutch side has greenery. However, the land owners of St. Martin showed the Prefet that they have no access to their land because Semsamar dug out the ravine and placed huge boulders inside which is preventing them from accessing their properties on the hillside.
The delegation also visited a property in Grand Case opposite the Grand Case airport and the "Mango Eco Project" owned by the James family. Prefet Chopin was impressed with the work done by Rodman James who is working almost every day on the property to revive St. Martin's culture and agriculture. Rodman James and his brother Edwin James told Prefet Chopin that they have 60 acres of land that they are ready to develop. Close to 50 acres are on flat land while the other 10 acres is on the hillside. The James already built a wooden bungalow and a restaurant that they intend to rent out for weddings and special parties. Rodman James said their intention as a family is to also build some other bungalows on their property for renting. He said he submitted two dossiers for subvention and was given monies but it was not enough to complete his project. He further explained that the bungalow for weddings and reception still needs to get electricity and water while some other finishing touches has to be done to the inside of the building before they can begin leasing it out.
Rodman James also showed Prefet Chopin one of seven wells that he has on their property but he needs money to complete them so that they could have enough water on site for agricultural projects. The James will be holding a cultural event this Sunday at the location and has since invited the Prefet as a guest of honor so that he can see some of the plans for the "Mango Eco Project". James said if monies are made available to him he will invest in solar energy for the estate.
Click here to view more photos of Prefet Delegue Philippe Chopin during his working visit with Land Owners on Monday.