Pinel crisis over, parties agree
on regulation of businesses
~ Arrêté Préfectoral to be annulled ~
MARIGOT--A proposal to regulate the physical structures of each of the four businesses on Pinel Island as well as limiting the number of beach chairs in exchange for legalising each business has been met with approval by all concerned at a pivotal meeting in the Sous-Préfecture on Monday.
However, businesses must comply with certain conditions by May 15 in the first phase of new terms for reorganising the beach on Pinel.
Interim Sous-Préfet Yvon Alain and General-Secretary Ambroise Devaux presided over the closed meeting. Those attending included Mayor Albert Fleming, Deputy Mayor Daniel Gibbs, Deputy Mayor Nicole Piper, Head of Service Urbanisme José Carti, Yanick Beaud of D.D.E., Réserve Naturelle manager Nicolas Maslach and all four Pinel Island business owners.
Recognising the economic importance of the island, the State and Conservatoire du Littoral worked out a compromise that allows owners to retain their businesses, but at the same time respect the environmental aspects of the Conservatoire.
A key element in the new proposal returns more of the beach for use of the local population and prevents businesses from “privatising” their own areas through expansion or excessive use of beach chairs.
Each restaurant will now be allowed to have only 20 beach chairs. It was estimated more than 300 chairs had been in use on the beach. Each restaurant business must also stay within a 200-square-metre measured area, part covered area and part open. Businesses have to demolish any construction or modification that would exceed this measurement and have until May 15 to abide by the new code.
The legalising process involves issuing businesses with temporary authorisation to remain active. This will then be followed up by issuing of permits after new architectural drawings have been made of the businesses.
The successful meeting ended the month-long ferry strike sparked by the issuing of an arrêté préfectoral to Léonie Larmonie halting construction of her restaurant. The order led to claims of discrimination and unfairness against her, turning the affair into a political hot potato. A blockade of the French Cul-de-Sac road last week by sympathisers forced authorities to solve the crisis.
The amicable solution allows Larmonie to continue her construction under new guidelines. She will also have the arrêté annulled providing her revised building plan is approved, but this is not expected to be denied.
“I am very satisfied,” said Nicole Piper, who spearheaded the support effort for Léonie Larmonie. “It’s a good solution. Fairness is what we were asking for from the beginning and that’s what we got today. The Sous-Préfet was very open to us and I also congratulate the Mayor for insisting on fairness.”
Léonie Larmonie was not immediately available for comment.
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