Ceremony and fireworks for July 14th

The traditional ceremony to mark July 14th, the national holiday, will take place on Monday in front of the Hôtel de la Collectivité territoriale, starting at 5pm. It will be followed by a vin d'honneur.

At 8pm, fireworks will be set off from the sea. This announcement by the Collectivité has met with some criticism. A press release has therefore been posted online by the communications department to clarify the situation.

The Collectivité's press release on the firing of fireworks:

"This year, the Collectivité, in consultation with the prefecture, has chosen to organize the fireworks display at a distance, at sea, in order to offer a show visible from Gustavia, while respecting the nesting of seabirds, which is particularly sensitive at this time of year (see map @ComStBarth).

Why this choice?

- Several areas around Saint-Barthélemy are nesting grounds for numerous protected species.

- Fireworks are therefore strongly discouraged or prohibited in these areas during the periods indicated, in order to preserve local biodiversity.

- The area chosen for the fireworks display has been selected to minimize the impact on birds - some species are only found on Saint-Barthélemy - while guaranteeing a visible show for the public."