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This is one of the most important meetings of the year for the elected representatives of the Collectivité territoriale. If not the most important. This Thursday at 5 p.m., the territorial councillors will meet in the Salle des délibérations of the Hôtel de la Collectivité, in La Pointe, to examine and vote on the 2025 budget. Ten days after the rejection of a motion of no-confidence aimed at removing Xavier Lédée from his post, the political context is at its most poisonous.jecting Xavier Lédée from the chair of president and replacing him with his first vice-president, Marie-Hélène Bernier. This historic move, unprecedented in Saint-Barthélemy, was therefore unsuccessful, but augurs well for an unpleasant atmosphere within the assembly.
Particularly discreet on the so-called "social" networks since the motion of no-confidence was tabled by the elected members of the Action-Équilibre group (on March 3), President Lédée has since returned to his usual rhythm of publication. After his now almost traditional weekly review of his activities, in which he describes the motion of no-confidence as "an inglorious move", Lédée is back to his usual rhythm. an inglorious move", the elected official gave a video address accompanied by a written transcript of his remarks on the 2025 budget. "A balanced budget of almost 400 million euros", he declares. Without going into the details of the budget lines, the President mentions a few key figures.
146 million in investments
For example: 15 million euros in personnel costs, 23 million for service contracts (waste management, sargasso removal, etc.), 13 million in miscellaneous expenses (subsidies to associations, aid to local authority satellites, overall operating grant paid to the State, aid to the Ehpad, etc.). Xavier Lédée specifies that the 2025 budget will be devoted to investments to the tune of 140.6 million euros. He mentions the repair of the road network, the deployment of the "Celia" submarine cable, the repair of the Brigantin roof, the extension of the Red Cross premises and the installation of solar panels on the Collectivité's buildings. The Chairman also mentioned several projects already budgeted for in 2024 but for which no investment has yet been made: the construction of housing and a nursery in Anse des Cayes, the development of the harbor floor in Gustavia, the rehabilitation of theXavier Lédée, without mentioning the housing component) and the construction of a central kitchen. To this list of projects included in the 2024 budget that have not yet been committed, we can add development of the route de Toiny, reconstruction of the old town hall, the Pôle handicap, renovation of the former offices of the Comité du tourisme, a new sewage treatment unit and a project for a new wastewater treatment plant.
It should be noted that the construction of a new school complex in Saint-Jean is included in the 2025 budget. The project will cost 23 million euros and take five years to complete.
In the summary presentation of the 2025 budget, the operating section is balanced (212.184 million for both expenditure and revenue), as is the investment section (397.686 million for both expenditure and revenue).
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A difficult vote to anticipate
The Conseil territorial has just experienced a major episode in its history. The tabling and voting of a motion of no-confidence has further highlighted, if any were needed, the existential and relational chaos of the current governance presided over by Xavier Lédée. A minority president, with only four elected members (Marie-Angèle Aubin, Mélissa Lake, Olivier Gréaux and Fabrice Querrard) in his "group", who will have to rely on the votes of the Saint-Barth d'Abord councillors (Alexandra Questel, Romaric Magras, Francius Matignon, sénatrice Micheline Jacques, Rudi Laplace and Sandra Baptiste) and those of the Action-Équilibre group (Marie-Hélène Bernier, Bettina Cointre, Maxime Desouches, Pascale Minarro Baudoin, Cécile Rubino Tessier, David Blanchard, Dimitri Lédée and Jonas Brin) to ratify the 2025 budget. Over and above the differences and animosities that are interfering with the smooth running of the council, it seems unlikely that the elected representatives will go so far as to vote "against" the budget to be presented on Thursday. Nevertheless, given the context, all possibilities are open. In 2024, the Saint-Barth d'Abord group voted against the budget, as did the first vice-president, Marie-Hélène Bernier. The budget was adopted by a majority.
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Thirteen items on the agenda
In addition to voting on the budget, elected representatives will be asked to vote on twelve other items of business. But first, a presentation of the report on "Saint-Barthélemy's situation in terms of sustainable development and the orientations and programs aimed at improving it" will be read out. Councillors will then address four points relating to Administrative Affairs.
Administrative affairs
Firstly, the merging of the "Tourism" and "Economic Affairs" commissions into a single entity. Secondly, the constitution of the internal working and study commissions will be modified following the resignations, in April 2024, of Jonas Brin (chairman of the "maîtrise du développement et modernisation du territoire), Dimitri Lédée (Affaires économiques), Pascale Minarro Baudoin (Accès au travail des étrangers), Maxime Desouches (Urbanisme) and more recently (March 2025) Marie-Angèle Aubin (Environnement). In addition, Cécile Rubino Tessier will be joining the commissions on which Caroline Maurel served, having replaced her on the territorial council.
Elected representatives will then vote on the Usar "capacity pact" project, i.e. the Stis rescue and search unit, as well as the Interventions on board ships and boats project.
Human resources
Three resolutions concern human resources. The first involves the creation of an "animal handler" job at the future educational farm. The second concerns the creation of a "work cycle" for the educational farm. Lastly, the terms and conditions for the allocation and use of in-kind benefits granted to local staff have been updated. Mainly for... the educational farm. Looks like it's finally going to open its doors.
Land affairs
Elected representatives will be asked to vote on two land-related matters. Firstly, an update on the acquisition of six plots of land belonging to Charles Querrard, in Saint-Jean, located alongside the new fire station. Then the acquisition of three cadastral parcels (AZ 374, AZ 328 and AZ 352) located in Petit-Cul-de-Sac. These plots will be used to build a twelve-unit housing complex, with all leases due for completion in 2025. The sale price has been set at 9.4 million euros.
Budgetary affairs
The territorial council will continue with the examination of the "early recovery and allocation of provisional results for the 2024 financial year", the framing of program and commitment authorizations for 2025, the vote on the primitive budget and, finally, the vote on subsidies, endowments and contributions paid to public bodies and associations, not forgetting scholarships.
