Français
At the gendarmerie fort, the delegation gave the Minister for Overseas Territories a brief presentation on the “smart border” project. Cyrille Le Vély, Prefect of Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy, explains: “The goal is to enforce our national sovereignty. Saint Barth has about thirty kilometers of coastline; we can assume that a lot is happening there, particularly regarding drug trafficking. The concept is to be able to detect, identify, and intervene if necessary. ” In October 2025, the prefect received a mission statement from the ministerial authorities inviting him to submit a report on a smart border system suitable for the island. A delegation from the Ministry of the Interior had already visited in November 2025 to study the various coastal surveillance technologies that could be adapted to the characteristics of Saint-Barth.
A sophisticated tool
“At the start of the term, the customs service had expressed its difficulties to us,” recalls Fabrice Querrard, chairman of the committee for territorial development and modernization. “We looked for solutions that could meet the needs and came across a service provider.” During the 2025 Interministerial Committee on Overseas Territories, the president of the Collectivité, Xavier Lédée, formalized this request by suggesting the installation of a sensor, the creation of a unified surveillance center (CSU), and the implementation of a questionnaire upon arrival on the territory. This sensor, which cost several hundred thousand euros, is intended to “monitor the flow of people between the two islands,” according to Fabrice Querrard. This state-of-the-art camera has already been delivered to Saint Barth and is expected to be operational in the coming weeks.
Legal Issues
As part of this same smart border initiative, the Collectivité has launched procedures to create a unified surveillance center (CSU). In practical terms, this involves a viewing room for images transmitted live by cameras installed on the island, as well as this new sensor. The Collectivité intends to station an officer behind these screens, which “would enable us to move forward with issuing citations, for example, for illegal dumping,” adds Fabrice Querrard. This smart border system requires close collaboration between the Collectivité and federal agencies. The two entities will need to determine which suspicious behaviors warrant alerting the gendarmerie. “ “There are legal issues because there are a number of regulations to comply with and perhaps also to adapt,” notes Cyrille Le Vély. “It’s also an important part of the work entrusted to me: to begin laying the groundwork for the legal framework so that all of this can be finalized.” The prefect of Saint Barth and Saint Martin is due to submit his report on the subject by the end of April.
|
Pooling cybersecurity expertise The Collectivité is therefore planning to create a network of these response centers to offer French expertise in cybersecurity to other territories. “The idea is to create a platform for exchange between centers in different territories, whether they are independent countries like Barbados or Saint Kitts, or other European territories,” explains the elected official. “Thanks to economies of scale, the Caribbean Cybersecurity Agency will be able to offer its members additional services at significantly lower costs.” |
Cultural Stop at Domaine Félicité
After a very formal morning, the Minister for Overseas Territories was welcomed at Domaine Félicité. Arlette Magras managed the feat of summarizing in just a few minutes the rich history of the island and the Magras family associated with this place. Naïma Moutchou smiled at the mention of the children who all slept in hammocks in the same room, and again upon discovering the family’s impressive family tree. Alain Magras led the rest of the tour, showcasing his vast knowledge of local plants and the numerous archives that make up this place of remembrance.
