Residents upset about boulders
blocking access to Le Galion
FRENCH QUARTER--Some residents and fishermen in French Quarter are upset about boulders that have been placed by Réserve Naturelle on a section of dirt track to prevent access to Coconut Grove Beach and Le Galion from the back of French Quarter on Round the Pond Road.
The boulders were reportedly placed there three days ago in the area that is known as Cadett Cotton. The Coconut Grove end of the track has also been blocked off with boulders.
“This road has been used by the population for hundred of years, to go fishing and shrimping, to go salt picking,” complained Relique Beauperthuy. “It is the only public road on this side that leads to the beaches. Other roads on other properties are private. This one should never be blocked. It seems the Réserve Naturelle is denying St. Martiners their local customs and traditions. Our culture has already gone up in smoke. It’s not right at all.”
Beauperthuy and others argued that the Round the Pond Road and track leading to Le Galion is a valuable access road whenever the main road in French Quarter is blocked because of an accident or a demonstration. Because it is flat, it is also easier to tow fishing boats on trailers rather than negotiate the steep hairpin bend on the main road which is dangerous for them, they added.
Manager of Réserve Naturelle Nicolas Maslach, however, said the area between the placed boulders was being used as an unauthorised garbage dump, and furthermore it is on the property of Réserve Naturelle.
Last weekend the Réserve and the Commune cleaned up the area, as well as during this past weekend to the satisfaction of many residents.
But Maslach said since then Réserve Naturelle signs have been destroyed in the area by persons with “bad intentions.”
“The access will be blocked indefinitely, the only exception being for the Easter Weekend, and then it will be closed again,” he stated. “There are still people out there who have no respect for the environment and who continue to use this area as a dump.”
Beauperthuy said he would not accept keys to a gate proposed by the Réserve that would grant access, adding that unless the boulders are removed he would resort to other measures.
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