Unbiased look at the Sint Maarten Elections
MARIGOT--A delegation of high-ranking technicians from the island of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean has been on a three-day visit to St. Martin to discuss issues common to both territories as well as issues related to Europe, Ultra Peripheral Regions RUP and to exchange information.
The delegation comprised Jacques Toto, Secretary-General in charge of General and Human Resources, Assistant Cabinet Director for European Affairs Dayane Saïd Mohamed, and Chargé de Mission RUP and European Affairs, Adrachi Velou.
President of the Conseil Général was not able to make the trip due to other commitments.
The delegation arrived Saturday from Guadeloupe where they attended the 20th conference of RUP territories. Mayotte became a RUP territory on January 1, 2014. Previously it was a Paye Territorial d'Outre Mer (PTOM).
Following a tour of the island on Sunday the delegation had a packed schedule of visits on Monday, beginning with a visit to the Central Kitchen in Grand Case. They then had a meeting with President Aline Hanson, First Vice-President Guillaume Arnell and Territorial Councillor in charge of Regional Cooperation, Louis Fleming, on bilateral protocol where gifts were also exchanged.
Next was a visit to the Media Library and Territorial Archives followed by a visit to the Galis Bay Port and the company Frigodom. At 2:30pm the delegation sat in on a technical meeting on education, training and the youth in Hotel de La Collectivité. That was followed by a meeting with Second Vice-President Ramona Connor and Coordinator of the Health Observatory for St. Martin/St. Maarten, Louis Jeffry.
"We are interested in how the Collectivité of St. Martin organises itself and how it addresses issues of unemployment, water and drainage, potable water, environment, tourism, illegal immigration etc.," said Jacques Toto at a press conference Monday morning.
"We also want to see what solutions we can find to benefit both territories," added Saïd Mohmamed. "It's been a very good visit because it is important to see the reality of how things are. Even though we are very far apart from each other, we have the same problems. We HOPE the Collectivité's elected officials will visit Mayotte where we will be happy to host them."
The visiting delegation returns to Mayotte today.
