THE FRENCH COMMUNITY COUNCILS

This is an FYI post, since apparently many people are either totally unaware of the existence of the community, and/or haven't a clue of what their purpose is, what they can do and even more important, what they cannot do.


One of the things that a Collectivity is bound to do is set up community councils throughout the territory which exist during the period of the incumbent administration's term of office.


On St. Martin there are six community councils:

1.  French Quarter
2. Grand Case until the top of Reilly Hill.
3. Rambaud, from the top of Reilly Hill until the top of Morne Valois.
4. Top of Morne Valois until Concordia
5. St. James
6. Sandy Ground.


They are put there to advise the territorial administration of any problems in the respective areas. The administration is "obliged" to inform a community council of any specifica projects planned for that particular community and the council in return must investigate the project and its potential effect on the community, and send in their report to the administration, who however, is under no obligatio whatsoever to take this advice into consideration.


The council members give of their time on a totally voluntary basis, and receive no remuneration whatsoever, beyond the fact of knowing the the administration is aware of the people's opinions, wants and needs. The council may also bring to the administration any propositions for the improvement of the area, but again, whether for lack of funds or any other reason the administration may or may not take anything into consideration. As we know, right now money is tight.


While they are put in place by the incumbent administration, they are not political groups and being of a voluntary nature, almost any resident of the community may join.


Each council is coposed of 15 mambers and in theory 15 "suppléents" or those who are available to replace a member in case of necessity. This total of 30 people has never yet been reached in any of the communities. The council has members belonging to the associative sector, those who are involved in the operation of associations in the community, members belonging to the business sector, and regular members.


Never having attained the total of 30 people in each area forces me to say that of the thousands of people who profit from St. Martin and the remaining thousands who would like to see a change, there are not even 180 prople willing to work for St. Martin?