Pinel: The carriers are still blocking the pier

On Wednesday, December 7, although the tourist season has already started, the carriers at Pinel are still blocking access to the pier in Cul de Sac. Tuesday afternoon, they were received by the prefect. During a meeting, which lasted more than an hour, they repeated what they had already mentioned on Monday to the chief of staff and the Director of Maritime Affairs during their visit. The four entrepreneurs don't want a fifth one and invoke the economic damage that his arrival would cause them. If the prefect wants to believe them, she is asking them to demonstrate it.

The competitive aspect had indeed been anticipated by the prefecture, precisely to avoid this type of problem. Last May, when they were studying the file of the famous fifth carrier, the Maritime Affairs had asked the four carriers the necessary documents for the assessment of the economic situation of their activity. However, for the past seven months, they still haven’t provided anything to the authorities.

For the time being, as mentioned by the prefect, this blocking is detrimental to restaurant owners and tourists of Pinel. Or even to the carriers themselves.

Moreover, upon verification with the Maritime Affairs, the carriers undergo regular controls and the safety regulations for the trip from Cul de Sac to Pinel are well respected, unlike the accusations made on social networks.

Also, unlike some comments mentioned on social networks, it is not a case of white/black or local/metropolitan since the fifth carrier is from Cul de Sac, Saint Martin, as the other four.

Finally, blocking access to the pier, although public, and preventing a person from working who is satisfying all regulatory conditions is not really legal. This is an offense of obstruction and it belongs to the Collectivité to request a referred judge.