TRIBUTE TO RAYMOND HELLIGAR

 TRIBUTE TO RAYMOND HELLIGAR

By Léopold BALY      July 6th, 2021

Born on September 4^th, 1948, Raymond HELLIGAR died on June 21^st, 2021 in Guadeloupe Hospital after suffering and hospitalized for quite a month following being administered the anti-COVID 19 vaccine in Marigot Hospital.Raymond was the son of HELLIGAR Georges Alexis (1898-1983) and HELLIGAR born FLANDERS Jeanne Anne Elizabeth (1904-1966), 

Raymond, last of his parents eight children, five sons and three daughters (Effie, Irade, Hubert, Jules, Achille, Ivane, Veronique, Raymond ), 

He was raised up by his parents in the agricultural valley of Colombier St-Martin. Agriculture and Farming were his parents only source of revenue. 

Those were St-Martin very hard days, the inhabitants had only one common password: SURVIVAL, 

Those were the days when we really knew what God meant when he said to Adam "By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food", but in spite of all the hardship, each family had its own deep sense of pride that was manifested in their daily way of life but their long term vision was mainly manifested in their sacrifice in providing to the best education of their children

Raymond parents and his elder siblings were no exception to this family pride culture

It is therefore no surprise that Raymond, after completing his college degree here on French St-Martin, was able to pursue his studies in Guadeloupe at the Engineering section of the « Lycée Général et Technologique de Baimbridge » 

My grandmother Irene Baly born HELLIGAR , was Raymond HELLIGAR aunt, his father sister, but my first most significant meeting with Raymond HELLIGAR was during his studies days in Guadeloupe,

Once he had a problem with his return to St-Martin Air-France airline ticket and he was directed to my office by the sales agent, as i was newly promoted chief of Air-France local commercial administration in Pointe A Pitre. His problem was immediately solve and he was able travel.

Useless to say how big was BIG RAY feeling to have his cousin in such a position in Air France

If not mistaken this was in 1969, and from that day up to his passing, Raymond had adopted me more than a cousin, as his Big Brother, when ever he will find himself at a cross road he will always seek my advice to help take the best direction.

On the other end, for me, he was my right hand in all of my daring ventures for a better St-Martin, particular in the field of education, cultural association, struggle for justice, journalism, electoral politics

When I ran 1n 1979 and 1981 elections for General Councillor, he was my only faithful comrade and campaign manager. People called me the man with the guts, but the real man with the guts was not me, it was far mostly Raymond HELLIGAR.

We had innovated a revolutionary style of electoral campaign meetings on St-Martin

As we celebrate his life today, I wish to recall my memories on some of Raymond HELLIGAR most daring initiatives as a young man, newcomer into society life

In 1972, Raymond created in St-Martin a branch of the youth association : "ASSOCIATION CULTURELLE DES JEUNES SAINT MARTINOIS (ACJSM)" which headquarters was created and established in Guadeloupe since 1968

The aim of ACJSM was to gather all the youths from St-Martin in a mind of friendship, to promote spare-time and cultural activities, to help the younger pupils traveling to further their studies to find a larger audience with older students, to request and defend cultural interest and vocational guidance of St-Martin's youths, to take action in all instances,

Thanks to the passion and hard work of Raymond HELLIGAR the St-Martin branch of ACJSM, had become in no time ACJSM main center of cultural, educational and social activities, bringing together considerable number of youths, this in particular by organizing social meetings, concerts, plays, traditional dances, summer vacation classes,

ACJSM, thanks to Raymond HELLIGAR leadership with a small team,, had become the most popular and attractive non-profit organization on St-Martin and this without one cent of public fund. Our finance was exclusively members contributions and fund collected from organizing cultural festivities. 

In 1969 our Association ACJSM launched its Newspaper under the name “LE HERON', later on changed to “TRAIT D'UNION”.

The chief object of TRAIT D'UNION was to open the eyes of our people by saying things as we see them. Raymond HELLIGAR, to say the least, was the mastermind of TRAIT D'UNION in St-Martin, covering the principal posts, events, sports, politics.......

During the 1970/80's Raymond HELLIGAR was an employee at the MULLET BEACH BAY HOTEL, St-Maarten. 

Mullet Bay Beach Hotel workers were affiliated to WIFOL Trade Union, but at a certain time Raymond HELLIGAR decided that the workers would be better represented if self-represented, this by creating their own independent Trade Union.

In this perspective the MULLET BEACH HOTEL WORKERS ASSOCIATION was created under the initiative and leadership of Raymond HELLIGAR, this should be around the years 1979/1980.

In the first union delegates elections, the newly created Association defeated WIFOL and become the official representative of MULLET BEACH HOTEL WORKERS,

For the following years MULLET BEACH HOTEL WORKERS ASSOCIATION had occupied the headlines of St-Maarten press in its struggle for the financial interests and better working conditions for the workers,

It is during this period that by the initiative of Raymond HELLIGAR, was created MULLET BAY BEACH HOTEL WORKERS SUPERMARKET.

The argument used by Raymond HELLIGAR was since MULLET BAY BEACH HOTEL was importing its own needed groceries by containers for its hotel consumption, why not add just an extra container to supply the workers groceries needs. And his argument had work.

It is unfortunate that great success always come along with distractors, a question of nationality campaign was to arise against Raymond HELLIGAR, blaming him as being of French nationality, not to have the legal rights to be a Trade Union leader on Dutch St-Maarten.

As a result of this denigrating campaign, in a subsequent workers delegates elections, Mullet Bay Beach Hotel Workers Association was defeated by WIFOL Trade Union.

Shortly after Raymond HELLIGAR resigned from MULLET BAY BEACH HOTEL to embrace a Self-employed professional activity in the touristic field, starting off as a Taxi-man 

I do not have the full details of Raymond HELLIGAR professional activities after his resignation from MULLET BAY BEACH HOTEL. (all comments will be welcome in the part reserved on my blog)

But I can say that he was a very successful self-employed Business man in the touristic field,

He was at a time the president of St-Martin socio-professional federation:  “Fédération interprofessionnelle de St-Martin (FISM)”

He was at a time president of St-Martin guild chamber (Chambre des Métiers) 

He was at a time Vice-president of the Chamber of commerce of Basse-Terre Guadeloupe and President of its St-Martin delegation

He was founding member and technical adviser of the recent created taxi association : SWALICAB TAXI SERVICE, an association of Dutch and French taxi artisans with headquarters in French-Quarter

And he was decorated with many medals for national recognition and honor

But Raymond HELLIGAR passion to contribute to the whole fabric of St-Martin-St-Maartin culture was so deeply planted into his heart and soul, that we will find him highly engaged into many cultural festivities not only in his home village Colombier but also island-wide.

Then he came up with the decision to engage himself in St-Martin creole-english poetry using exclusively St-Martin Old-time creole-english language and old time slangs expressions.

I personally tried to awaken his consciousness to the amplitude of such a challenge, stating in particular on the knowledge in creole-english phonetic such an activity will demand. Talking a language is one thing but deciding to write it is another thing

But once Raymond HELLIGAR have conceived in his mind a goal, in particular when comes to engaging himself in the cultural blossoming of his homeland St-Martin, that becomes to him an obsession and no obstacle can seems too high for him to surmount.

Raymond HELLIGAR, started out researching in Caribbean bibliography on creole-english language and slangs expressions and to collate his discoveries with St-Martin creole-english and slangs. This permitted him to created his own St-Martin creole-english vocabulary repertoire.

He also had integrated international social & learning groups in the field of Caribbean poetry

In a surprising time, Raymond, under the stage name BIG RAY, had become the most popular figure on St-Martin as a story teller, a poet and a writer, a popularity that has even extended to other islands in the Caribbean

The present tribute that I pay today to my Cousin, friend and comrade Raymond HELLIGAR is rooted particularly in those above mentioned prime days of his struggle for the common cause of his country and people,

My testimony today, as we lay his body to eternal rest, is principally rooted in what I knew best of his life, and that is his self-sacrificial life, relentlessly engaged in the cultural, educational, social and political progress of his country and people 

It is therefore in remembrance of Raymond HELLIGAR daring entry as a young man, into society life, not fearing his young beginner status, that I can proudly testify the following as we celebrate today his life

"He that plants a tree on earth, had not passed through in vain."

It is beyond all question, Raymond, that you had planted your tree of life and had kept it blooming during your entire journey on this earth,

The tree by which life continues its endless progressive journey, a tree rooted in our ancestral culture and conceived to solidly bond one generation to another,

The candle tree that gives light, that revives, that consolidate, that leads generation to generation, without separation gap, in the path of an authentic rooted society life,

By your planted tree, Raymond, you surely will always be remembered

The numerous people of all ages, of all origin, of all steps of the social ladder, that have breathed prayers and hope for your recovery even knowing of your hopeless condition, are evidence of the depths, the roots of your planted tree have taken in the hearts of all those who have had the privilege to live close to you, or those who have been following you in your worthy exemplary high spirited performance on stage as you deliver your poetries, your stories and old time slangs

Raymond, your relentless passion to be always on the forward move in the realization of your set goal has and will always be an inspiration for many

Raymond, your life the in times of today, is practically a rare authentic example of self-sacrificing out of love for a noble cause, love for your homeland St-Martin-Sint-Maarten and for your people

Raymond, you had dedicated your entire life in a struggle for your country your people cultural, social and educational progress

Raymond, as you depart and will be no more the active contributor you had been to our society life, we can but acknowledge and thank you for your effective contribution in the cultural, educational and social uplift of your country and people .

Raymond you have lived the life of a hero and died as a hero, offering yourself as an example of encouragement to others in the taken of this anti-COVID 19 virus vaccine,

Raymond, We that have lived close to you, know that you had always had a very heroic philosophy of life and destiny, a philosophy that had permitted you in all circumstances to see beyond the shinning face of providence as well as beyond the dull face of unfortunate events

A very heroic philosophy that had at all times and in all circumstances kept you unchanged in your spirit and passion to move on relentlessly towards your fixed goal

For reasons only God knows the truth, we are force today to pay to you this ultimate tribute.

Gone too soon, hard to believe that in all we do here on earth, yet we remain subject to the cruel hazards of destiny

But those of us that know you best, we can undoubtedly acknowledge that you had always live a life in full conciliation with all the hazards our earthly life offers at the most unexpected time.

Raymond, Today in your new life, surely you are free from all the physical and spiritual suffering this earthly life had not spared you of

Raymond, Today in your new dwelling, surely you are enjoying the greatest of freedom unknown to we the prisoners of greed and senselessness of this earthly society you are no more part of.

Raymond, you are free as the morning star in a bright blue sky, untouchable and sublime.

We will forever remember you because of your:

- Distinctive sincere and faithful character

- Distinctive passionate yet humble personality

- Distinctive brotherhood attitude

- Distinctive contribution to your people common cause

- Distinctive passion, your culture, your intellect, your vision, your imagination

Raymond, though your body is going back to the dust from which God has created humanity, your high spirit and passion for uprightness will continue to live in our heart.

Memories of you will surely inspire and lead many of us to follow your path, a path of self-sacrifice, of brotherliness, of faithfulness and of an infallible sense of community life and common cause

Raymond, you have lived the life of a Hero, and for the secret reason that only God knows why, you have lived on this earth the time of most Hero, a time not long enough, gone too soon

WE MUST BELIEVE THAT BEYOND THIS LIFE HERE ON EARTH THERE IS A BRIGHTER WORLD OF DIVINE JUSTICE THAT BRINGS ALL THINGS BACK TO AN ABSOLUTE EQUILIBRIUM

AND WE KNOW RAYMOND, THAT YOU REALLY DO MERIT SUCH A BRIGHTER WORLD.

Raymond, In spite of our belief that today you are in a better place, living a new life in company with God the Almighty and your savior

In spite of all our religious or philosophical belief over life and death, 

We must acknowledge our deep heartfelt bereavement, words cannot express how much we will surely miss you.

Raymond, surely there is nothing physical we can do at this time for you, you are finish with earthly things, But today because of our belief in life after death, we are presenting our prayers for your godly acceptance, the acceptance of your soul in your new home in God's Kingdom, the home that Jesus Christ had promised to prepare for us 

Today we symbolically share among us a few of your memories and lay down aside your resting body our flowers, that may bring some comfort to your family and loves ones in their sorrow and grief, but we Know that there is no means these earthly things can be of any benefit to you

But there is something that we can share with you, that is our spirituality, our peace of mind, our harmonized soul and spirit, that comes through our conciliation with the truth, and make all living soul fit to connect even with the living soul and spirit of our passed love ones.

This spiritual connection assure eternal rest in peace of our passed love ones,

It is my assurance that if we should take your exemplary natural inclination to seek the truth and to do the right thing as our guideline, by so doing your life on this earth would have not been in vain and your soul and spirit will inherit eternal rest in peace for a mission well accomplished

Raymond,we will no more have the pleasure of enjoying your presence, but we strongly hold fast to the assurance that your roots are already sprouting and giving growth to multiple healthy trees that will keep on bearing the  fruits of your ideal for your country St-Martin- St-Maarten and your people.

And we say as it is writing in the Holy Scriptures: “Thou you had died, yet you liveth through us”

Raymond in spite of our assurance that your spirit is today united with God the almighty, he called you surely because he has a better place for you

Raymond, in spite of our conviction that alike God's apostle Paul “You have fought the good fight, you have finished the race, you have kept the faith. Now there is in store for you the crown of righteousness....”

Yet we must say that you surely will be physically missing

Sail on Raymond, sail on to the land of the true, where we live anew and will never grow old

WE MISS YOU

O SWEET St-MARTIN'S LANDS 61st ANNIVERSARY

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« O SWEET SAINT-MARTIN'S LAND”! IT'S YOUR 61^st, ANNIVERSARY

I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU: WHY HAVE THE FRENCH CONVERTED YOU FROM THIS "USEFUL BIRD IN WHITE"? :

« ...Thy useful birds in white

Their morn and evening flight

Like aircrafts-wings in unityTheir coming down for food

Their turning back to roost

Bring home to me their harmony... »

TO THIS ?

“... Flight of its pelicans
Graceful and elegant

When they hover high into air

When they dive into the sea

Tell me the place where we see them

When based on their prey”

Can this be some sort of mockery?

What could be the reason for the French to publish their own version of « O SWEET SAINT-MARTIN'S LAND” and converted father Kemps “Birds in white” to “Pelicans”?

To distort in substance and in form our cultural history and memories of a historic icon of our society Father Gerard Kemps, is nothing less than an intellectual crime. I can only hope that one day our cultural organizations will become conscious of this intellectual and cultural crime and proceed to the necessary correction.

I had already some years signal this distortion done to father Kemps song, but my plea has fallen into deaf ears.

This November 11^th, 2019, 60^th anniversary of St-Martin/St-Maarten Day, I want us to consider the original 3^rd verse of our island anthem as written in its original lyrics by father Kemps, as in all the organized official ceremonies , “O SWEET SAINT-MARTIN'S LAND”, our said to be St-Martin/St-Maarten bi-national song and even Dutch Sint-Maarten anthem, will fill the air with its charming melody.

But do we know that the 3^rd verse of this song is today completely obsolete?

“Thy useful birds in white”: Birds of Western Africa origin, known as ox-peckers (in french: pique-boeufs or Héron Garde-bœuf,), made their first appearance on our island, St-Martin, in the early 1950's, the most known colony was that installed in the mangroves of Lowland. This is the colony of father Kemps song.

They have in the recent decades been driven out of their nest in the Lowland by the new french european settlers therefore we have no more “Morn and evening flight”, we have no more “turning back to roost”, does this says that our bi-national anthem that we chant today on its 61st, anniversary   in such a heartfelt melody is today in reality of facts obsolete?

These birds are essentially insectivorous, they feed on insects such as grasshoppers, locusts, bugs, ticks etc. and therefore render a great service to gardening and raising of livestock, in particular, they keep our cattle clean of ticks, a factor of disease.

“Their morn and evening flight” “Their turning back to roost”: From the presbytery balcony of Marigot overlooking the Marigot bay, father Kemps home for 30 years, he had a daily clear view of this colony of white birds leaving their nest in Lowlands early every morning and returning every evening

“Like aircrafts-wings in unity, Their coming down for food” here we see that father Kemps not only observed this colony of white birds from his home balcony but also followed them on the pasture fields where they feed in particular on the cattle ticks and will separate group by group. As example, one group will land off in the Spring/Marigot, an other in Galisbay, then Friar's Bay, then the Savana etc.

“Like aircrafts-wings in unity”: Before the landing of each group, the colony will put on a flying performance in the air similar to the fighter jets grand performance we see in the skies of Paris on the 14^th, of July festivity. By “aircrafts-wings in unity” father Kemps compares these birds coming down for food to that of the the known “Patrouille de France avions de chasse” show in the skies of France.

“Their turning back to roost”: In the evenings for the gathering back up of the colony to return to “roost” we were given the same grand performance, before the entire colony completed and ready to return to its roost in the Lowlands, flying in harmony always with one leading as a 30 seconds interval the "eclaireur", the reconnaissance bird

“Bring home to me their harmony” : The unified organization of this colony of birds was source of inspiration for father Kemps.

My question today is what has remain today of all the charms of our little islands, put into such heartfelt lyrics and melody in 1958 by father Kemps, priest of the Marigot Catholic Church from 1954 to 1984,

In 1959 the entire Lowlands have been sold off to the Americans by Paris as 50 pas geometriques at the official price of ten centimes of francs a square meter,

In the 1980's the Americans were chased out of their lowlands properties by the french europeans and so were these birds we are chanting today in our island bi-national anthem, chased from their nest in the Lowlands, by the destruction of ann the mangrove in the area, the erection of 8 meters high walls guarded by dangerous bulldogs

As father Kemps I was also charmed by the natural harmonious organization of this colony of birds. A group would land every morning on a cattle farm situated before my home in Friar's Bay.

I can testify, for the last 20 years there is no more : “Morn and evening flight” there is no more “Turning back to roost”. it seems to me that today they have started a new life style, they "roost" in the same area where they feed.

Today, I really don't want to believe that the little group of 15 to 20 birds I yet see before my home in Friar's Bay, is the last remaining of the large colony of over 300 birds that existed on this island in the days of father Kemps.

The last cattle farmer in Friar's Bay “ Maxi” has died last Saturday November 2^nd 2019 and this can well be the last of these birds in Friar's Bay, as for now they are in a state of utter disarray flying around by the one and two

OBSERVATIONS ON THE PPRN 2019

BALY Léopold

Friar's Bay – Bievenue

07150 Saint-Martin Saint-Martin le 25 Octobre 2019

Madame ou Monsieur Le commissaire enquêteur de

l'enquête publique du projet PPRN de Saint-Martin

Préfecture St-Barthelemy & St-Martin

23 rue du Spring/Marigot

97150 SAINT-MARTIN

Objet : Mes Observations et propositions sur le projet PPRN 2019

Madame ou Monsieur Le Commissaire Enquêteur,

Je vous demande en votre qualité de Commissaire Enquêteur de l'enquête publique sur le PPRN 2019 de Saint-Martin de bien vouloir, dans votre rapport, prendre acte de mes observations suivantes :

1. Sauf erreur ou omission de ma part, il me semble que l'opération de délimitation s'est limitée au strict caractère général et impersonnel que les autres procédures, les illustrations cartographiques de zonage, présentation des aléas, la législation ou réglementation etc.
   
   Or j'estime que l'opération de délimitation qui particulièrement affecte et limite le droit de propriété privée de tiers devrait être complétée par une procédure d'information individuelle a chaque membre de la population directement affectée dans leur droit de propriété privée par l'application de cet PPRN 2019.
   
   Il en va du principe juridique de la République et du respect de la Déclaration des Droits de l'Homme et du Citoyen, que la population directement affectée dans leur droit de propriété privée, soit prévenue individuellement par l'administration préfectorale sur les implications de ces délimitations mises en vigueur par cet PPRN, en particulier sur l'utilisation ou l'occupation des sols, les travaux autorisés ou interdits sur les bâtiments existants, l'interdiction de construire ou possibilité de construire sous certaines conditions etc, auxquels leur propriété privée serait dorénavant soumis.
   
   Le non-respect de cette formalité est susceptible tant sur le plan juridiquement que par référence jurisprudentielle a soulever la validité de cette opérations de délimitation et de son opposabilité aux tiers
   
   Cette information individuelle le l'administration préfectorale s'impose d'autant plus que la COM St-Martin n'est pas dotée d'un PLU ou d'un POS respectant les normes légales de publication.
   Sans exclure l'absence de cohésion manifeste dans cette affaire entre l'administration préfectorale chargée de la mise en vigueur de cet PPRN et l'ensemble des élus de la COM St-Martin, y compris le président qui a compétence de la fonction urbanisme
2. Où est l'urgence ou même la nécessité d'instituer des mesures aussi draconienne de préventions risques naturels et de surcroît, limité exclusivement aux aléas littoraux, en dépit de l'hostilité générale manifestée publiquement par la population indigène contre le contenu de cet PPRN ?
   
   Cet PPRN est considéré par nous les indigènes ancestraux de Saint-Martin comme l'ultime coup de grâce destinée a pérenniser la politique de l'Etat consistant depuis une soixantaine d'années, a nous déplumer de nos légitimes et ancestraux droits d'user des fruits et du bien-être qu'offrent les sols littoraux et eaux côtières de notre ile.
   
   Le PPRN ne prétend régler que les parties du littoral exposées aux aléas calculés sur la submersion marine relevée durant l'ouragan Irma du 6 Septembre 2017, pourtant, on note dans le rapport CEREMA que les dégâts aux constructions dans ces zones submergée par les vagues marines et classées rouge par le PPRN, ont été très inférieurs aux dégâts relevés dans les zones non-submergée  ?
   
   Le PPRN ne donne aucune information sur la population exacte concernée par ces aléas littoraux,
   
   Par l'historique des passages de cyclones sur St-Martin, nous savons que l'ouragan Irma serait le premier ouragan dont l'oeil frappait de plein St-Martin et avec des vagues de 6 à 8 mètres de haut,
   
   En outre, l'intervalle entre deux ouragans majeurs dans le basin Atlantique est d'ordre de 20 a 35 ans,
   
   Nous savons également que le contenu du PPRN est contesté par les élus de la COM St-Martin, y compris le président
   
   Pour ces raisons, il est légitime que la question de l'objectif de l'Etat dans cette procédure PPRN se pose et pourquoi ne pas envisager une loi d'aménagement du territoire tenant compte de tous les aléas d'origine catastrophes naturelles, y compris tsunami, au lieu et place d'une révision du PPRN par arrêté préfectoral très contesté par la population indigène
   
3. Pourquoi prendre comme modèle de référence exclusivement l'ouragan Irma du 6 Septembre 2017,  pour définir les aléas littoraux par submersion marine ?
   
   Nous savons que les effets dévastateurs des vagues sur notre littoral est directement fonction non seulement par la seule puissance des vents cycloniques mais surtout par la trajectoire du cyclone agissant sur la direction du courant océanique,?
   
   Si Les ouragans Luis et Irma suivaient a peu près la même trajectoire Est- Nord-ouest, l'histoire nous prouve que notre ile aurait été par le passé, frappé aussi par des cyclones a trajectoire toute opposée, comme l'Ouragan Alice du 2 Janvier 1955 qui avait une trajectoire Nord-Est/Sud-Ouest.
   
   Il est donc évident qu'un PPRN reposant exclusivement sur le phénomène Ouragan Irma, ne règle pas a long terme les aléas de l'ensemble du littoral de notre iles contre la montée des vagues par effets cycloniques.
   
4. Est-ce rationnel de parler en termes d'aléas par risques de submersion marine ou même d'inondation ?
   
   Ni le Président de République, Emmanuel Macron, lors de sa visite du 13 Septembre 2017, soit 7 jours après le passage de l'ouragan et qui décidait de l'institution sur St-Martin d'un nouveau Plan Prévention Risques Naturels (PPRN), ni les experts CEREMA arrivés le 7 Octobre 2017, n'ont été témoins sur terrain, de submersion marine ou d'inondation,
   
   Tous les aléas littoraux faisant l'objet de cet PPRN 2019 s'appuient non sur des constatations effectives sur le terrain mais sur des photographies prises dans le vif de l'ouragan c'est a dire exclusivement le 6 Septembre 2017.
   
   En effet, la mer reprenait naturellement sa place simultanément avec la fin des effets cycloniques sur l'ile.
   
   Il serait donc plus rationnel de parler en termes de montée des vagues cycloniques a l'intérieur des terres au lieu de submersion marine qui laisse supposer submersion la cause des dégâts relevés
   
   Accuser la submersion marine au lieu et place de montée des vagues a l'intérieur des terres, camoufle la solution rationnelle qui serait la construction de barrages marins anti-vagues et non une expropriation de fait.
   
5. Où est la vérité du choix entre submersion marine et la montée des vagues a l'intérieur des terres  ?
   
   La réalité est que l'ile de St-Martin s'est retrouvé place directement sur la trajectoire de l'oeil de l'ouragan Irma du 6 Septembre 2017, le plus puissant ouragan jamais enregistré dans l'Atlantique Nord et le littoral de notre iles recevait de plein fouet des vagues marines de 6 à 8 mètres de haut.
   
   If faut savoir que jusqu'à la fin des années 1950, notre ile était naturellement équipée pour amortir les effets de la montée des vagues marines d'origine cyclonique et même de tsunami par ses nombreuse lagunes et salines, qui communiquaient directement avec la mer et des larges plages de sables.
   
   Aujourd'hui, ces lagunes, salines, plages de sables, ont été remblayées de totalement ou à plus de 60% et les lagunes et salines coupées de toute communication avec la mer, ceci dans le seul objectif d'une urbanisation spéculative.
   
   Jusqu'a présent la politique de l'Etat sur les terrains littoraux consiste a les soustraire de la propriété ou possession des indigènes pour les brader a des spéculateurs américains et européens qui transforment les lieux sans tenir comptes des dispositions naturelles, créées par la main divine et destinées a amortir la montée des vagues par les effets cycloniques ou tsunami
   
   Ainsi il n'y a pas submersion marine a St-Martin, mais simplement la nature qui réclame ses droits naturels
   
   Léopold BALY

May 1st, 2019 Wishes

On this May 1^st 2019 I embrace the opportunity to extend my vibrant exhortations to the working class of the world as they celebrate today their annual May 1^st, festive day.

In particular to my St-Martin/St-Maarten fellow-patriots, my wish is the awakening of our consciousness to the reality of facts that today the working class struggle on this little island goes beyond traditional social struggles,

It is not only a question of survival of our social struggle and public liberty but more our very existence as an indigenous people.

Our survival all directional depends on our capacity of resistance against a real day to day political tragedies, our annihilation, a direct attack against our very daily livelihood, against our “liberté, égalité, fraternité”, against our spirit of belonging to our ancestral homeland

We can no more afford to be complacently submissive to the state of France denial of we the people and in particular workers, liberty and freedom to public manifestations that are guaranteed by the “Déclaration universelle des droits de l'homme et du citoyen” an integral part of the french constitution and also by article 9 of the “Convention européenne des droits de l'homme”

I overheard yesterday morning that the Trade Unions French/Dutch of our island were planning a unity march for this year May 1^st manifestations, which from my point of view was one of the most dreamed praised worthy initiative of the mass ever to take place on this island.

This unity march was to be on the routing Galisbay parking lot to the Bellevue frontier where the French and Dutch Trade Unions were to meet and then march back to the Galisbay parking lot. Unfortunately seemingly the prefet decided that the bellevue strip of road leading to the Frontier cannot be use.

Did the Préfet had any juridic grounds to forbid this strip of road for the organization of a peaceful manifestation as the 1er May, ? The part of the itinerary the less liable to risks of violence or any sort of public insecurity?

My answer is that this is an manifest abuse of power “en fond et en forme” and for this I accuse the Trade Unions for their religious complacency and secrecy on such a flagrant violation of the people's public liberty to manifest. Such violations must be submitted to the public attention

By law the organizers must declare their manifestation to the Collectivity or the Prefecture at least 3 days in advance, giving all the details such as chosen place, time, itinerary... It is only if there is any evidence of “trouble de l'ordre public” or impossibility to adapt a police safety disposition that the prefet can forbid even partly the manifestation, and this must be done by préfet decree (arrêté)

On this 1^st, May 2019 let us in one common voice French and Dutch send a clear message to our respective european State government that their duty is to commit themselves the guarantee and protection of the people's democratic and universal human rights and that we are no more going to tolerate silently the institution of a police regime in our Island, we are no more going to tolerate the arbitrary denial and restriction of our constitutional and universal human rights.

A translation Extract of Pres. E. MACRON JULY 3rd, 2017 SPEECH BEFORE FRANCE'S CONGRESS

A TRANSLATION OF Pres. E. MACRON JULY 3rd 2017 SPEECH BEFORE THE "CONGRES DE VERSAILLE"

What we will do for the institutions of the Republic, I wish also be done for our Territories. 

Let us not dread to establish agreements based on confidence with our Territories.
We all know how much our France is wide and how closeness to the ground is important for decision-makers.

The Jacobin centralization, too often manifest itself in the elementary fear to lost a part of its power.

Let us ward off this fear,
Nothing ventured, nothing gained, let us experiment and decentralize, this is an essential condition for the development of rural territories as well as a solution to districts in difficulty.

Let us dare enter into real girondin pacts with our Territories, based upon confidence and upon responsibility. 

A number of our Territories are waiting on this.

The Territories Conference that will soon be put in motion under the direction of the Prime Minister is answering to this concern.

It will not be solely a budgetary or financial conference but also about finding together means to adapt our politics to local realities and to grant more latitude to territorial collectivities.

And in particular, I have in mind Overseas collectivities that must have all the necessary means to succeed.
It is in this same spirit of confidence on which is built this contractual Republic that we already are making progress in the working world and in society, in given to women and men that are the most near at hand to the realities of the enterprise, greater entitlement to be able to regulate everyday life.

This not in a battle of force but in an agreed and shared framework

We all know that confidence requires greater caring than the unilateral use of authority, we also know that it produces greater results and is creative of the harmony without which civil life can become unbearable.

France has lived through enough tests and has known enough of greatness not to be reduced to infantile-people that one can delude with illusions. Every French citizen has his part of responsibility and his role to play in the conquest of the future.
By recovering the spirit of out institutions, we will be giving back to the entire nation the feeling of recovering the command of its destiny and the pride to take in hands the course of its own history.

(Note: The Jacobin parti and the Girondin parti shared the 1791-1793 revolutionary government in Paris after France's 1789 revolution, but one was to wiped out the other because of opposing political ideologies.

The Girondin parti was pleading for a federalist provincial France to the contrary the Jacobin parti was a ferocious defender of a centralized government in Paris and therefore accused the Girondin parti of federalism crime against the indivisibility of the Republic).

EXTRAIT DU DISCOURS DU PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON AU CONGRES DE VERSAILLE LE 03/07/2017

Ce que nous ferons pour les institutions de la République, je souhaite le faire aussi pour nos territoires.
Ne redoutons pas de nouer avec les territoires des accords de confiance.
Nous savons tous combien notre France est diverse et combien est importante l'intimité des décideurs publics avec le terrain de leur action.

La centralisation jacobine traduit trop souvent la peur élémentaire de perdre une part de son pouvoir.
Conjurons cette peur.
Osons expérimenter et déconcentrer, c'est indispensable pour les territoires ruraux comme pour les quartiers difficiles.

Osons conclure avec nos territoires de vrais pactes girondins, fondés sur la confiance et sur la responsabilité. Nombre de nos territoires l'attendent.

La conférence des territoires qui sera bientôt lancée et sera conduite par le premier ministre répond à cette préoccupation.

Il ne s'agira pas uniquement d'une conférence budgétaire ou financière, mais aussi de trouver ensemble les moyens d'adapter nos politiques aux réalités locales, et de donner davantage de latitude aux collectivités territoriales.

Et je pense en particulier aux collectivités d'Outre-mer qui doivent avoir tous les moyens pour réussir.

C'est ce même esprit de confiance qui fonde cette République contractuelle que d'ores et déjà nous faisons avancer dans la société et le monde du travail en donnant à celles et ceux qui sont au plus près de la réalité de l'entreprise une capacité plus grande à en réguler le quotidien, non dans le rapport de force, mais dans un cadre convenu et partage.

Nous savons tous que la confiance exige un soin plus grand que l'usage unilatéral de l'autorité.

Nous savons aussi qu'elle produit de plus grands résultats et qu'elle suscite cette concorde sans laquelle il n'est pas de vie civile supportable
La France a vécu assez d'épreuves et connu assez de grandeur pour n'être pas ce peuples-enfant que l'on berce d'illusions. Chaque Français a sa part de responsabilité et son rôle à jouer dans la conquête à venir.
En retrouvant l'esprit de nos institutions, nous redonnerons à la nation tout entière le sentiment de retrouver la maîtrise de son destin et la fierté de reprendre en main le fil de son histoire.

C'est la condition même de la réconciliation de notre pays.

GIVE ME MY FLOWERS WHILE I'M LIVING

GIVE ME MY FLOWERS WHILE I'M LIVING

How many more open-hearted christians, faithful to their Church are yet remaining in St-Martin?

How many true believers in God the provider and who in spite of being materially in a daily battle to survive from poverty, yet will reserve the best of their garden food crops for their Church yearly harvest Sunday?

Some may rightfully say: They have all died out!

Not too fast! There is at least one yet alive, at 91 years old, we call him Tintin, here is he, with the biggest bunch of bananas his home garden produced and it is reserved for his Church's yearly harvest Sunday.

Unfortunately, the high wind blew down the tree before harvest Sunday and he was forced to cut it off.

This was August the 18th, 2017, his Church harvest Sunday was supposed to be the following month, September.

As a heaven-sent, I happen to pass-by that very day and was able to comfort him by giving a phone call to one of his Church's stewards, explained to him the situation and he replied that he will pass at his home to pick up the bunch of bananas, and he did.

Tintin could not be more proud and happy of his contribution to his Church's Harvest Sunday.

This is what his Ancestors always did: The best of what they reap from their garden was always reserved for their Church's yearly harvest Sunday, and in his soul and mind, his duty is to carry out this culture as long as God allows him to.

The following month, September 6^th, came Hurricane Irma, Tintin's home was to suffer some severe damages, mainly the zinc covering his home roof were all lifted and blown away.

And here 8 months after, we find poor Tintin, yet homeless!


Tintin is the type of christian worshipper that will never mist out on a Sunday Church service as long as God provides him with the strength,

However, for the last 2 to 3 years his legs do not permit him long distance walk, so he has become a shut-in in matters of going to Church and having an active participation in its events or organizations.

Tintin was an active member of the Church Men's Fellowship, the Men's Choir, Class meetings etc...

Today, we find Tintin heartbrokenly alone, grieving and silently wondering: Why have I been forsaken?

All he needs is a few sheets of zinc and a togetherness helping hands to restore the roof of his home and permit him to return to his old time home, to his lifetime home, to his lifestyle environment, to his peaceful homely way of life.

Take these things away from a person of his age, 91 years old, but yet with a strong will to live his own life, is no less than consenting to his pre-death.

But Who is Tintin?

Literate in both french and english, let me copy a little note he wrote out himself : “ To those of you who haven't known me or my identity, i'm the son of MACCOW Augusta Leontine and HELLIGAR Georges, I was born in La Romana, Dominican Republic, on the 05/06/1926. I was recognized by my father at the Register Office of La Romana 

Add captionfather at the Register Office of La Romana.

My mother along with her 4 other kids and their father BROOKS Albert Pompee and myself, returned from the Dominican Republic to St-Martin on July 14^th, 1935,

 I can remember that day it was around 4 PM when the boat docked in in Marigot port, we were welcome by many family and other folks that were so glad to see especially my mother, for myself and sisters and brothers, we have never felt so happy before in our life.

My mother and BROOKS Albert Pompee married here in St-Martin on July 20^th, 1936 and she died on July 5^th, 1979 here in St-Martin

At a time when there was a market on St-Kitts for empty beer bottles, Tintin embraced the activity of gathering empty bottles around St-Martin and monthly shipped them out to St-Kitts.

Later on he become beneficiary of a social old-age pension from the government, unfortunately this was cut in the year 2012 and was never restore to this day, in spite of his numerous plea to the Government, locally as well as at the level of Paris.

The reason his old-age pension was cut!

His french passport expired and the Collectivity that is today in charge of receiving applications for issuing and renewal of passports and national identity cards, rejected his passport renewal demand, claiming that on his birth certificate his mother name is written Leontine Augusta MACUC instead of Leontine Augusta MACCOW.

And the french government could not find a solution so that his old-age pension may be restored.

Note that french legislation relating to this social old-age allowances, normally, all a beneficiary is required is to have legal residence on french territory.

But because Tintin is a french St-Martiner he must show proof of his french nationality.

So imagine this poor man, without a wife nor children, just single, living alone, going to sleep every night not knowing from where he will get a piece of bread to survive if God should spear him an other day!

While at the same time all his neighbors, essentially foreigners are receiving monthly unemployment or social old-age allowances from the same French Government that is denying to him, an ancestral rooted french citizen the rights to be treated at the very least equally!

He is condemned to die out of hunger because of a mistake on his birth paper, and this by his own french government! Does that sounds like betrayal?

Tintin did all of his primary schooling right here on french St-Martin, from his childhood at the age of 9 years old, he relates many history with his teacher Emile CHOISY, his practically entire life he resided on french St-Martin and had enjoyed french citizenship

What democratic government, respectful of human rights, can refuse to recognize to a person 91 years of age and of french citizenship his whole life time, the rights to the simply renewal of his passport and his rights to the minimum means of living due to all legally resident of french territory by law?

They told him to return to the Dominican Republics to get his birth certificate rectified, but how can he travel without a valid passport? So he is left to die of hunger on french territory?

Out of decency sake I will not describe in detail the deplorable conditions under which he have been reduced to survived for the last 6 years,

We are all pretending to be blind before his deplorable living conditions, likely simply waiting until he dies to echo the most eulogistic praises for his faithfulness to the Church, this over his dead body!

I say Shame on we his brethren!
Shame on we his neighbors,
Shame on we his brothers in Christ and in the Church!
Shame on the french Government, local and State's Government!



GIVE HIM HIS FLOWERS WHILE HE IS ALIVE!