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Saint Martin
Six million euros to modernize the Louis-Constant-Fleming Hospital
The director general of the Guadeloupe Regional Health Agency, Philippe Lucciani-Michaux, announced on Tuesday, October 6, during a press conference that six million euros will be invested to begin structural work at the Louis-Constant-Fleming Hospital. Renovations and technical upgrades will be undertaken, along with investments aimed at improving and modernizing the psychiatric ward and the facility’s security system. The hospital’s new director, Patrick Lambruschini, will be tasked with leading this overhaul of the facility, in addition to working to reassure staff and unions.
Sint Maarten
A New Air Connection to St. Thomas
On Monday, October 5, Princess Juliana International Airport inaugurated a new direct flight between Saint Martin and St. Thomas, operated by Contour Airlines. The airline will offer two flights per week, on Mondays and Fridays. The flight takes 55 minutes and will be operated using aircraft with a capacity of thirty seats. Round-trip ticket prices range from just over $400 to nearly $1,000. (Photo ©DR)
Saint Eustatius
40 million euros to repair the harbor seawall
An article on the Bes Reporter website reports on a policy paper regarding relations within the Kingdom of the Netherlands submitted to Parliament on October 2, in which the government presents three options for the Saint Eustatius harbor seawall. According to the report, it could cost up to 40 million euros to repair and upgrade the breakwater. It specifies that the cost of repairs is estimated at approximately 7.5 million euros, the cost of renovating the existing structure at 15 million euros, while extending the breakwater by 100 meters—to ensure optimal long-term protection—would require an investment of approximately 40 million euros. “No additional funding has yet been secured for any of these options,” the Bes Reporter article notes. And for good reason: the Dutch government currently has no additional funding available for this project. Earlier this year, technical assessments revealed that the current seawall was in much worse condition than expected; it is deemed too fragile, too low, and too short to provide adequate protection against current and future weather conditions.
U.S. Virgin Islands
In St. Thomas, dredging the harbor will cost $41.9 million
According to the U.S. Virgin Islands Port Authority, as reported by the website Latitude 15, the cost of dredging the Port of Charlotte Amalie in St. Thomas—which is set to begin on October 12—totals $41.9 million. This project aims to improve maritime access for large cruise ships and increase the operational capacity of one of the Caribbean’s leading cruise destinations, Latitude 15 reports. Orion Marine Construction has 365 days from the start of dredging to complete the work. The project involves deepening three key areas of the Port of Charlotte Amalie: the entrance channel, the turning basin, and the berthing area serving the West Indian Company Limited (WICO) cruise terminal at Havensight. The dredging addresses navigation constraints that currently limit access for some of the largest cruise ships calling at St. Thomas.
Antigua and Barbuda
Stricter Legislation on Sexual Offenses Adopted
According to a report published by the Caribbean National Weekly, the Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda has approved amendments to the legislation governing sexual offenses. These include a provision making any sexual intercourse with a person under the age of 16 a crime punishable by life imprisonment. The Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Sir Steadroy Benjamin, who introduced the bill, stated that these amendments aim to strengthen the protection of children and impose harsher penalties on offenders. Under the amended legislation, any person who engages in sexual intercourse with a minor under the age of 16 will be guilty of an offense, regardless of whether the minor consented or whether the accused believed the minor to be 16 years of age or older. In addition, the attorney general emphasized that the government has a responsibility to send a strong message to those convicted of sexual offenses. He also presented provisions designed to provide communities with information about certain offenders after they have served their sentences.
Saba
A widespread power outage on October 6
The island of Saba experienced a widespread power outage on Tuesday, October 6. Power has been restored, but the Saba Electric Company N.V. (SEC) has provided details about the incident as well as the urgent repairs currently underway at the power plant, reports Saba News. According to the SEC, the outage was triggered by a communication error related to the solar farm system. After initial attempts to restore power via the transformer still in service failed, crews brought the second transformer back online. This transformer remained operational despite an oil leak. This transformer had previously been disconnected for repairs. Before it could be used again, the team had to reconnect it and replenish the oil level. The SEC notes that these additional steps prolonged the time needed to restore power to the island. In service since 2016, the power plant relies on two transformers that normally share the load, with each supplying half of the island’s electricity. This design provides a backup solution: if one of the transformers is unavailable, the other can power the entire island. Demand has increased since 2016, driven in particular by major ongoing development projects. This situation places an increased load on a single transformer when it must power the island on its own; this is why the SEC emphasizes the importance of restoring normal operation of both units.
Guadeloupe
Administrative Court Overturns Municipal Elections in Le Gosier
On Wednesday, October 7, the Administrative Court of Guadeloupe, in Basse-Terre, issued its ruling following the September 29 hearing, after four candidates in the municipal elections challenged the validity of the March 15 and 22 elections. La 1ère reports that the court ruled to annul the election, which had resulted in the victory of incumbent mayor Michel Hotin with 50.56% of the vote, at the expense of the slate led by Keeter Sylvain, which had received 49.44% of the vote. The four candidates who challenged the validity of the election are Keeter Sylvain, Jocelyn Martial, Liliane Montout, and Patrick Gob. To justify its decision, the court cited several factors. An official ceremony organized three days before the election by the incumbent mayor for the signing of promotion decrees for 80 Category C municipal employees, a disproportionately large campaign poster; and photographs and messages posted on the town hall’s official Facebook page, which the court deemed “likely to undermine the integrity of the election.”
Tensions and Violence Surrounding the High School Student Protests
Since the beginning of the week, many high school students in Guadeloupe have been protesting the conditions under which they must study in their schools (excessive heat in classrooms, the condition of restrooms, class sizes, and a shortage of teachers, among other issues). In the Baimbridge, Jardin d’Essai, and Chevalier Saint-George areas of Les Abymes, La 1ère reported numerous incidents of unrest. Trash cans were set on fire, and projectiles were thrown at police officers. “According to the National Police, the first projectiles were thrown around 8 a.m.,” reports La 1ère. Police specifically mentioned a plastic bottle containing aluminum and hydrochloric acid, which law enforcement described as a homemade device. ” The police responded to the violence by firing tear gas and using LBDs (defensive ball launchers). Since the start of the protests, twelve minors have been arrested and taken into custody, according to the Pointe-à-Pitre prosecutor’s office.
