Lurel surveys storm damage,
inspects road infrastructure
MARIGOT--President of Guadeloupe’s Regional Council Victorin Lurel paid a quick visit to St. Martin on Good Friday to inspect areas most affected by the recent storm swells. He also took the opportunity to view progress with road network upgrading.
Lurel, President of the Collectivité Louis-Constant Fleming, vice-president Daniel Gibbs, Opposition Councillor Louis Mussington and Public Works officials from Guadeloupe spent time inspecting the Galisbay waterfront where waves had pounded against the breakwater, forcing the closure of the road.
The delegation also visited Beach Plaza Hotel in Marigot, which had been under siege from five-metre waves crashing against the façade of the hotel, swimming pool, and restaurant. Hotel staff were still mopping up from the waves on Friday as the officials viewed mounds of sand thrown up against the ground floor hotel rooms.
Hotel general manager Maurice Perrinmarechal said he had not seen such effects from a storm surge since Hurricane Luis in 1995.
“Fortunately we didn’t have any real damage, just a lot of cleaning up to do in the last 24 hours, and we have lost some of the beach,” said Perrinmarechal. “Some ground-floor hurricane shutters were partly damaged, but still provided protection, and sand 50cm deep or more was thrown up onto the ground-floor patios and floors. It was tough for the guests, who were very anxious about the high waves. The whole building was trembling.”
He said about 10 employees had worked through the night and early morning hours of Thursday to prevent sea water from encroaching farther into the lobby or making contact with electrical outlets and cables.
Fleming said a clearer picture of damage and cost for the cleanup would be obtained on Tuesday as reports were received. Some resorts would be able to claim on their own insurance, he added, while Lurel as Deputy Senator for the district can negotiate with the State for funding on St. Martin’s behalf.
“It was an exceptional situation, to have five metre swells, especially at the end of March,” he said.
On the road network, Fleming said the priority now was to start the underground sewage, electrical, and drainage work on Rue de Hollande from Rue Kennedy to the BDAF Bank, which should start in April. The section from BDAF Bank to the bridge at Hameau du Pont will also be resurfaced.
Construction of the roundabout at the Cul-de-Sac turning will also go ahead now that it has been determined it will not impact the planned 300-metre extension of the airport runway.
Fleming also revealed that the Ministry of Overseas Departments had consented to subsidise repairs to the Sandy Ground bridge with a 750,000-euro subvention that would be written into the budget.
The draft budget, which will be voted for on March 31, now stands at 102 million euros.
