Français
The creation of a fully-fledged prefecture for Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Martin was ratified on Thursday January 9 with the publication of a decree (2025-38) in the Journal Officiel. This change in status comes more than nineteen months after an announcement made by Gérald Darmanin, then Minister of the Interior and Overseas France, during a visit to Saint-Barthélemy in May 2023. This announcement was followed by a decision by the Ciom (Comité interministériel des Outre-mer) in June 2023.
The decree is part of a reform designed to improve the action of the State representative in the communities of Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Martin. It removes references to the préfet délégué (delegated prefect) and reorganizes the system for delegating, deputizing and acting for the State representative. The decree also extends the scope of the Guadeloupe departmental joint secretariat to the prefectures of Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Martin.
This is a development that government departments have been working on for many months. In particular, sixteen additional posts were created in advance of the decree's publication. In Saint-Barthélemy, the organization should remain unchanged, with the presence of a permanent delegation from the prefecture. For the time being, the appointment of a sous-préfet is not on the agenda.
With full powers, the prefecture of Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Martin will have greater decision-making autonomy. Above all, it strengthens the authority of the State's representative over the departments, since he is no longer dependent on the Prefect of Guadeloupe.
The publication of decree 2025-38 was not accompanied by an official appointment. As a result, until a decision is taken by the Ministerial Council, Vincent Berton will remain in charge of the Prefecture of Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Martin.
