SXMElections.com

MARIGOT--A delegation led by union representative Cédric André from Union Général des Travailleurs de Guadeloupe (UGTG) said it was “very satisfied” with the outcome of a meeting held Monday with President Aline Hanson and other officials and technicians to resolve issues that sparked a demonstration by some 50 youths in Sandy Ground last week Thursday.

The youths blocked the main road in protest at the lack of sports facilities and activities in Sandy Ground, as well as other issues.

Complaints centred on infrastructure for basketball, volleyball and football, the problem of abandoned cars, garbage situation, inadequate street lighting in the district, sewage and drainage issues, rain water evacuation and stagnant pools of water that encourage mosquito breeding. Clarification was also sought on various subventions and aid from the Collectivité and State that should benefit the youth of Sandy Ground.

“It went very well and now we will wait to see the results and remain vigilant,” André said of the meeting. “The President said to come to her directly if there is a problem from now on. But all the appropriate services have been mobilised. She has assured that the work will advance.”

A meeting has already been arranged in Sandy Ground today, Tuesday, at 11:00am to look at the drainage problems, the stagnant water, and the basketball court with the appropriate persons concerned.

André added associations and other districts have supported the action. While Sandy Ground is a priority now other districts can be addressed in the interests of St. Martin as a whole.

Members of the delegation included President of Madtwoz Family Jeremy Watt, President of Sandy Ground Ball Stars Martin Hughes, Robert van Heyningen, Lucien Gamiette, Alain “Toulah” Richardson and Ras Touza Jah Bash from the We Agree with Culture Association, who caught a serious infection on a finger from contaminated water in Sandy Ground.

“We have been told the basketball court will be ready by the end of January 2015,” said Richardson. “The boat bringing the materials for the court should be here on December 10. We also wanted a guarantee that there would be proper facilities and restrooms. A permit for this will be applied for Service Urbanisme. We were happy with the answers we got but we will still be watching. As concerned citizens of Sandy Ground we have been neglected for too long and given too many empty promises.”

There was a question of whether the youth could have more access to the Cultural Centre for activities without charge. Hanson confirmed the centre was open to all associations.

“We would like to have a convention with the Cultural Centre which itself is run by an association to allow us to have cheaper or free access,” explained Watt. “Not everyone can afford the prices. I think it would uplift the centre if it was used more.”

There appeared to be some discord between the delegation and district representative Georges Richardson, who was also in the meeting. One reporter suggested Richardson had not been informed of what the delegation had been planning.

“Mr. Richardson will have to go along with this,” said Ras Touza. “The people have spoken. He is by himself but he better rally around the people and get things done. He cannot do it all on his own. When many people come together it gets done.”

Richardson insisted that everything that was discussed in the meeting he had already made the Collectivité aware of on paper and had brought up the issues in Sandy Ground since 2008.

“Albert Brookson has copies of all the letters that I wrote, now if those letters remained in somebody’s drawer and weren’t sent out to the right destination, I am not responsible,” he said. “After Gonzalo I wrote to Rosette Gumbs-Lake who is in charge of the districts and made suggestion about the garbage situation. I don’t know if that letter reached the right person. It’s not me that has to make the decisions, it’s the Territorial Council.”