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Although the start of the tourist season is still a few weeks away, the start of the hotel and restaurant season is fast approaching. Employees and seasonal workers are gradually returning to Saint Barth. For many, this is a new experience. Consequently, to ensure that their employees are fully aware of all the risks and other “hazards” they will face throughout the season, most of the island’s hotels are reaching out to the gendarmerie and the Territorial Environmental Agency. The goal is to provide information and awareness sessions not only for newcomers but also for regulars who might need a few reminders.
This Thursday, October 8, the gendarmerie is conducting a session for the staff at Eden Rock. “We’re covering the unique aspects of Saint Barthélemy, how emergency services operate, the road network and its hazards, the penalties for traffic violations, and the dangers associated with going out and the use of alcohol or drugs,” explains Captain Jonathan Quinchon, commander of the Saint Barthélemy brigade. The officer particularly emphasizes the immediate penalties faced by all road users, whether they are seasonal workers or not.
From a traffic ticket to a criminal offense
For example, testing positive for drug use results in a fine of 500 euros and the suspension of one’s driver’s license. “It’s important to remember that drug use can be detected several days after consumption,” the captain notes. He also emphasizes the penalties resulting from drinking alcohol before driving. For blood alcohol concentrations ranging from 0.25 milligrams of alcohol per liter of exhaled air up to 0.39 mg/l, the driver is subject to a fine (minimum 135 euros), the loss of 6 points, and a possible suspension of their license. Above a level of 0.4 mg/L, it is no longer a traffic violation but a criminal offense. The offender therefore faces the loss of points, a suspension of their driver’s license, a fine of up to 4,500 euros, immobilization and impoundment of their vehicle, and even a prison sentence.
At the same time, the Territorial Environmental Agency will use these sessions to educate workers on the best practices to adopt in order to live in harmony with the local biodiversity that now constitutes their new environment. These meetings are of the utmost importance for protecting the island’s most vulnerable species.
