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This Thursday, October 23 at 5 p.m., the elected representatives will meet for a territorial council meeting. Important issues will be discussed, including the launch of the shuttle service and the reconstruction of the Irénée de Bruyn hospital. On the eve of this meeting, representatives of the island's various political groups give their views.
The shuttle, the educational farm, the hospital... A number of important issues will be on the table at the territorial council meeting on Thursday October 23 at 5pm. Some of these will be examined during an amending decision to the budget, which will readjust the amount of the Collectivité's expenditure and revenue at the end of the year.
Elected representatives will also be asked to give their opinion on the reconstruction of the Irénée de Bruyn hospital. The scenario adopted by the general commission at the beginning of the month is that of a new establishment built on the same site as the old one, with a Maison de la Santé and housing.
The group leaders - Xavier Lédée for Unis pour Saint Barth, Marie-Hélène Bernier for Action Équilibre, Alexandra Questel for Saint Barth d'Abord and independent councillor Francius Matignon - discuss this and other key issues on the eve of the meeting.
Reconstruction of the Irénée de Bruyn hospital
It's a project that never ceases to provoke debate. At the council meeting, elected representatives will vote on whether or not to agree in principle to the reconstruction of the Irénée de Bruyn hospital on the current site in Gustavia. Xavier Lédée is quite confident. In the general commission, the elected representatives spoke out in favor," stresses the chairman. That's one of the reasons why I put the deliberation on the agenda. "
As a reminder, if the option is validated, the Collectivité will commit its finances to 28.8 million euros of the 33.3 million euros the project will cost. The remaining 4.7 million euros will come from the budget allocated to Saint-Barthélemy as part of the Ségur de la santé program.
But this scenario poses several problems. For a start, the question of land is still unresolved. No one knows whether the land on which the facility and Ehpad are to be built belongs to the hospital or to the Department of Guadeloupe, which would then have to retrocede it to Saint Barth. Mediation is currently underway. "As long as this aspect has not been settled, no decision can be taken", says Marie-Hélène Bernier, who indicates that she will vote against the agreement as it stands, or abstain. The leader of the Action Équilibre group still advocates rebuilding the hospital in Saint-Jean.
We need to regularize the situation," says Alexandra Questel, "the Collectivité can't just inject 33 million euros if the land isn't its own. But we have to confirm the agreement in principle. It's important for the hospital's management to have a perspective. "A view shared by Francius Matignon: "We need to move forward. "
Xavier Lédée is not alarmed by any possible inconveniences caused by the Gustavia site - truck traffic that could create traffic jams, noise pollution for patients and residents of the Ehpad during construction. There are techniques to limit dust and noise," he assures us. I'm not an expert, but companies know how to do it. It won't be a major issue. "
Alexandra Questel "takes responsibility for the work, because the hospital is a priority for local residents. "There will definitely be noise, but everything will be done to limit it as much as possible," says Francius Matignon. "It's going to be an absolute mess," laments Marie-Hélène Bernier.
A final point of contention: parking. There are currently around 40 spaces. Urban planning regulations stipulate that 300 spaces are needed for the new project. On a plot of land that cannot, in fact, be extended. "We're going to apply for an exemption," says Xavier Lédée. The future relocation of the school complex from Gustavia to Saint-Jean, and new land acquisitions by the Collectivité, will also make it possible to find space, according to the president. For Francius Matignon, the situation won't be much different from today: "It will all be a question of organization and common sense. "It remains to be seen whether these arguments will convince a majority of councillors.
The educational farm
Another important dossier to be studied during the council meeting is the Gouverneur educational farm. A new subsidy of 450,000 euros will be voted before its opening. No, you haven't missed an episode. The structure was indeed inaugurated on July 4 (JSB1623). But it has remained closed to the public ever since. The reason? Some equipment had not yet been installed, some of which is mandatory to meet safety standards. There were some adjustments to be made," says Xavier Lédée. The safety commission is due to visit the site this Friday 24, for an opening in late October/early November. "
What are the additional 450,000 euros for? "It's to pay off the work," continues the chairman. Francius Matignon is more precise: "It's for the construction of a water retention basin, essential for fire safety. "This raises several questions. Will the safety commission be able to approve the opening of the farm if the fire tank has not yet been built? Will the tank be ready in time to welcome the public in "late October/early November"?
Surprisingly, the farm has already received a few visits this summer. In particular, children from the leisure center. "They were with a team of supervisors and were not allowed to use structures such as the playground," relates Francius Matignon. The little Saint Barths were apparently divided "into groups, with never more than around thirty children at a time. "
The shuttle between Saint-Jean and Gustavia
As far as the shuttle project between Saint-Jean and Gustavia is concerned, everything is running like clockwork. Announced for October by the Collectivité, the test phase should begin "before the end of November", according to the President.
A new budget of 600,000 euros will be submitted to the Board. "It will be used in particular to set up a second circuit, between Saint-Jean and Lorient", explains Xavier Lédée. The head of Unis pour Saint Barth points out that this shuttle number 2 project is not for tomorrow. We're going to go step by step," he continues. It's mainly a question of releasing funds so we don't get stuck if we want to start getting organized. "
"People have to play the game if the shuttle system is to work and we're to relieve congestion in Gustavia," comments Alexandra Questel. According to the leader of Saint Barth d'Abord, the Collectivité should take steps to encourage residents to choose this means of transport. "By limiting the amount of time one can spend in a parking space, for example. "
The disability center
Alexandra Questel admits: "It's a failure for us. We could have proposed solutions to families a long time ago, but the creation of the disability hub at Saint-Jean has fallen behind schedule. "
This center will be discussed at the council meeting, as 2 million euros were to have been earmarked for it in 2025, but were ultimately not used and will be reallocated to another expense. The Chairman points out that the Collectivité is currently working on a strategy for soil decontamination at the pound, where the social structure will be located.
The administrative procedures are dragging on. "This file should be at the top of the pile," grumbles Marie-Hélène Bernier. "I'd like the first people to be welcomed at the Saint-Jean center before the end of 2028," says Xavier Lédée. Originally, the project, launched under the previous mandate, was scheduled for the first half of 2024.
The Saint-Jean school group
The relocation of the Gustavia school group to Saint-Jean is taking shape. The elected representatives will have to approve the extension of an underground parking lot, although it remains to be seen whether it will be reserved for schools only or not. The fact that it will be built on flood-prone land does not worry the leaders of the political parties. "The architects have come up with a well-thought-out plan that has been marked out to avoid any difficulties," says Francius Matignon.
"The risk has been taken into account, the aim being to create a resistant and autonomous parking lot," adds the chairman. According to him, work could start in a year's time, with completion scheduled for 2029.
A new Maison des assistantes maternelles in Anse-des-Cayes
This dossier should pose no difficulties for the council. Each group representative is delighted with the creation of a new Maison des assistantes maternelles (Mam) in Anse-des-Cayes. "It's a good project, which will address the important issue of childcare on Saint-Barthélemy," comments Marie-Hélène Bernier. We also need a Mam in Gustavia," emphasizes Francius Matignon. It's already planned to replace the nursery school annex. It's a pity, because until the school has been relocated, its installation will be delayed. "
With the new Mam in Anse-des-Cayes, there will now be four childcare facilities on the island. Two already exist in Lorient and another is under construction in Grand Cul-de-Sac.
In Saint Barth, a machine capable of detecting skin cancer thanks to AI?
Vectra WB360 looks like something out of a science fiction movie. This high-resolution imaging system, used in dermatology, can photograph the human body from head to toe, no less than 92 times in one second! The aim is to produce a 3D image of the patient, in order to identify and archive high-risk skin lesions. The machine also has built-in artificial intelligence, which can perform a pre-analysis before the dermatologist does.
A technological jewel that the Maison de la Santé would like to acquire. According to Marie-Hélène Bernier, President of the Maison de la Santé, the project, which has already been approved by the Health Commission, will be put to the vote at the next Territorial Council meeting on October 23. "It's cutting-edge equipment, which we would be the only ones in the Antilles to have at the moment, and which could attract new professionals", says Carole Nardin, health coordinator at the Maison de la Santé.
If the territorial councillors vote in favor of the acquisition, it remains to be seen whether the Collectivité or the Fondation pour l'équipement médical d'urgence de Saint-Barthélemy (Fémur) will purchase the 500,000 euro machine.
