Low season and a spate of robberies

“At the moment, not a day goes by without a robbery or an assault,” laments Amandine Rycx, a pharmacist at the central pharmacy in Marigot. Having been the victim of a robbery at her pharmacy on 13 June, the healthcare professional is outraged by this situation. “The whole island is affected. After us, our attackers headed over to the Dutch side to rob a Carrefour Market. This is happening everywhere there are shops.” In three weeks, four pharmacies and several shops have been targeted in armed robberies. It’s a worrying situation, especially as the low season is only just beginning. 

“What do we do now?”

Whilst an investigation is under way, Amandine Rycx laments the lack of response from public authorities. She says she has received no message of support from either the Collectivité or the prefecture following the robbery. “After such a shocking incident, nobody’s phoned us. We feel as though nobody cares,” she laments. Grégory Lax, manager of the Caraïbes Numeric Print shop, is disillusioned: “Nothing’s happening. You don’t see a single police officer in Marigot. The local police are on the forecourt of the Collectivité’s headquarters, where they’re just standing around on the seafront.” Yet, despite having been promised for several years, CCTV cameras are still due to be installed in the town centre’s streets. “It’s been almost ten years since Irma that we’ve been told this, but in the meantime there are robberies, stabbings and drug-addicted people wandering the streets – what are we supposed to do now?” asks Amandine Rycx, exasperated. She is worried not only for her patients but also for her business. “We’re on an island that depends on tourism; this is an abnormal situation. What are we going to do if people get scared and stop coming?” laments the pharmacist. 

Support measures

“Over the past two years, we’ve set up WhatsApp discussion groups as part of the Local Council for Security and Crime Prevention (CLSPD),” explains Yann Lecam, chair of the Marigot Traders’ Economic and Citizens’ Association (AEC). These discussion channels allow shopkeepers to discuss their concerns and circumstances amongst themselves, as well as with the gendarmerie and the Collectivité, who also act as administrators of the group chats. “We have also produced a leaflet setting out the first steps to take if you witness a suspicious act or if you are the victim of a robbery,” adds Yann Lecam. As for the police, whilst the gendarmerie claims to have stepped up its presence on the streets, the local police say they are carrying out patrols “morning and evening” and have “made their officers aware of the rise in serious incidents”. These are measures that shopkeepers find hard to believe. “Elected representatives are supposed to do what is necessary to ensure our protection, but on 9 July, during the France v Morocco match, two pharmacies were robbed,” points out Amandine Rycx. These are repeated offences that show no sign of abating, and the situation is due to be discussed at the end of July at a meeting bringing together the public prosecutor and the security command staff. Watch this space. L.G