Français
Elected senator for Saint-Barthélemy in 2020, Micheline Jacques succeeded Michel Magras, the island’s first senator. “I naturally followed in the footsteps of Michel Magras, who left behind a tremendous legacy,” explains the senator. “However, our two legacies cannot be compared: elected immediately after the change in status, he implemented the major adjustments. Nevertheless, I have always ensured that my actions align with the philosophy of the status—not asking the State to do things for us, but giving the local government the means to act on its own, adapted to its size.”
Health Care, Organic Law, Amendments
Micheline Jacques notes that she facilitated the creation of the Territorial Center for People with Disabilities (MTPH), which was integrated as a local government service and recognized by the National Solidarity Fund for Autonomy (CNSA). “Until then, applications were reviewed by the Guadeloupe Departmental Center for People with Disabilities (MDPH) because, due to a lack of adaptation, we could not create a structure as provided for by law under general jurisdiction,” she explains. From now on, the review of applications takes place entirely in Saint-Barthélemy, and the Collectivité has avoided the bureaucratic burdens of a public interest group (GIP). ” She also emphasizes that she was “the driving force behind the special provision allowing unvaccinated patients and/or their caregivers to travel for medical treatment” during the COVID-19 health crisis.
In addition, the outgoing senator mentions her proposed organic law aimed at allowing Saint Barthélemy to participate in the exercise of the State’s powers. This bill was intended to adjust the terms for financing the hospital’s additional operating costs and to allow Saint Barthélemy to participate in setting contribution rates jointly with the State. It was unanimously adopted by the Senate. She adds: “I had the rules on acquisitive prescription introduced by the Programming Law on True Equality in the Overseas Territories extended to Saint Barthélemy. These rules reduce to 10 years the time limit for challenging acts of acquisitive notoriety published before December 31, 2017. As part of my proposed bill to adapt overseas territory law, I introduced an amendment aimed at allowing the local government of Saint Barthélemy to regulate the operation of commercially used pleasure craft (NUC) departing from Saint Barthélemy. “Under her chairmanship, the Senate Delegation for Overseas Territories made three trips to Saint Barthélemy as part of work on disability issues and the adaptation of the government’s approaches, in conjunction with the Delegation for Women’s Rights on support for parenting. Fifteen senators from across the political spectrum thus visited Saint Barthélemy “to better understand the reality of the territory,” emphasizes the candidate running to succeed her.
“A Structured Framework”
Regarding the EDF power plant in Public, she explains: “I personally advocated for the plant’s renewal with the office of Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu. For just over a year now, the State, the Territorial Collectivity, the CRE, and EDF have had a structured framework for discussion that emerged from a meeting I convened in response to the lack of coordination regarding information.”
Finally, the senator assures that the president of the territorial collectivity “has consistently been included in Senate delegations.” She states: “I have always welcomed him to Paris, just as I have welcomed elected officials, whenever I was informed of his visit, and facilitated meetings with ministers’ offices, particularly regarding the thorny issues of electronic traffic ticketing and the hospital.”
A Term in Numbers
During her six years in the Senate, Micheline Jacques introduced 116 amendments, signed 21 reports, posed eight questions to the government, and co-sponsored 1,113 amendments. Her vote was recorded in 1,572 of the 1,575 public votes during her term, or 99.8%. Of the 1,553 votes in which she participated, her vote aligned with her party’s majority position 98.6% of the time (22 instances where it did not).
Among the bills for which Micheline Jacques submitted the most amendments in her own name are the emergency plan for Mayotte, measures to combat the high cost of living in the overseas territories, the 2025 budget bill, the bill on differentiation, decentralization, and deconcentration, as well as the pilot program for rent control and improving housing in the overseas territories.
Furthermore, according to public data available on the Senate’s website, Micheline Jacques ranks among the top 25% of senators in terms of voting attendance.
(Sources: nosparlementaires.fr)
