Crisis situation: water must not be turned into a political issue
The toxic atmosphere prevailing amongst elected representatives points to a tense situation between the opposition and the current administration, but divisions are also emerging within the majority itself. The issue of water and the crisis affecting the region have brought this to light.
‘The crisis we are facing today was foreseeable given the dilapidated state of the water treatment plant and the obsolete parts that are currently failing us. I hold the opposition responsible for this situation; this opposition that wants to return to power by any means necessary. It is up to this majority to take the bull by the horns; as President, I am exercising my authority. With the support of the State, we will provide the necessary funds to refurbish the plant. An agreement will be signed with Saur to commence urgent repairs so that water flows continuously from the taps as soon as possible. The emergency procedure to be activated by the prefecture will enable us to act effectively and swiftly in the public interest. The issue of building the new plant remains relevant and pressing, but the refurbishment of the existing facility is a major priority, as is the repair of the Quartier d’Orléans wastewater treatment plant.” These remarks, made by President Louis Mussington at the opening of the territorial council last Friday, provoked strong reactions. The opposition felt insulted, but it was within the ranks of the majority that these remarks triggered an immediate response, from Raphaël Sanchez, territorial councillor and president of the EEASM (water and sanitation authority).
Whose fault is it?
Without reopening the debate on past terms of office or assigning blame to one side or the other, Raphaël Sanchez was keen to refocus the discussion on the urgency of the situation. According to him, the plans for the new production plant have been “virtually ready since 2024”, but are still awaiting funding from the Collectivité, despite repeated requests from the EEASM teams. “We must stop turning the issue of water into a political issue, because we have asked you to enable us to proceed swiftly with construction and start work that should have been done long ago, but the message has gone in one ear and out the other,” laments the territorial councillor.
“It is sad to say that you are going to sign a partnership with SAUR, knowing that for the past 10 years it has allowed our desalination plant and our wastewater treatment plants to fall into disrepair, and tomorrow it will come and present you with its bill! We are now caught in a vicious circle, and I will not tolerate, Mr President, you binding the people of Saint Martin to a contract with SAUR, a company that has taken advantage of them in so many ways,” continues Raphaël Sanchez, citing the example of the mobile unit – a €1.1 million investment by the water authority to deal with crises – which is now unusable due to a lack of maintenance. He also laments that water was not a priority on the list submitted to the Minister for Overseas Territories during her visit. Beyond operational management, he also questions the financial imbalance of the current model: “89% of resources go to SAUR, compared with just 11% to EEASM”, even though this authority bears the bulk of the investment. A situation deemed untenable, particularly in the face of an annual renewal plan estimated at €10 million against barely €1 million in revenue.
“You must commit, Mr President, to honouring what you signed during the meeting with the project’s funders. Everyone made a commitment, we signed a document, and only the Collectivité has failed to honour its commitment. This is an important, essential and urgent matter. What I am expecting today is to see a budget allocation for the EEASM so that we can renew the networks and start work on the plant quickly. Honour your commitment and we will have a solution for the water,” he concluded.
Louis Mussington’s response to his arguments was dismissive: “What you have just said is not necessarily true; there is a procedure, and the urgent priority is to ensure there is water in the taps. Building the plant remains a priority, but first let’s ensure there is water’ … thus bringing the discussion to a close without specifying how water could reach the taps without production facilities.
The Director of Saur and regional councillor, Mélissa Rembotte, was absent from Friday’s session.
