ORIENT BEACH--The four St. Martiners who have so far refused to sign the contracts for the new Orient Beach restaurants on parcel AW34 have listed details of what they consider to be subpar work not conforming to French building codes.

 

They have also accused the Collectivité of "not giving valid explanations, lacking foresight and failing to utilize independent expertise to guarantee a well thought out and executed plan."

 

The four local proprietors, Maurice Jermin, Leandra Carti, Monique Hyman and Paulinus Wescoth, said they have a total of more than 30 years on the beach.

 

In their press release they indicated the rent is "inconceivable and unreasonable"

 

compared to what the Lolos in Grand Case are paying (average 500 euros per month) and largest Lolo in Marigot (600 euros per month). They said the restaurants run by four French metropole proprietors acquiesced and signed the contracts at 2,500 euros per month.

 

The local proprietors' proposal is for the Orient Beach restaurants to pay 700 euros per month, larger boutiques 500 euros per month and smaller boutiques 375 euros per month.

 

The Executive Council which meets on Tuesdays is due to review the rent complaint and could possibly make a decision today.

 

According to the local proprietors the original plan called for the restaurants to be facing the beach and boutiques to the rear. They said a private meeting with a group of French metropole vendors resulted in the plans being changed unknown to anyone else. The boutiques are now attached to each restaurant (some restaurants have a structure on either side) and the issue of which space belongs to who will be a matter of contention.

 

Regarding the problems with the restaurants the proprietors say they are not able to install the normal hood for the exhaust to let the heat out of the kitchen because the Sheetrock is not strong enough to support it.

 

"And the French code demands that each kitchen have a drain in the kitchen floor to facilitate proper cleaning. It is we who will have the expense (labour and materials) of breaking the floor to install that drain.

 

"The French code also requires that there be a sink in the kitchen with a foot pedal. Semsamar did not do this so it becomes our expense. The French code requires a shut off valve in the kitchen in case of fire, a button that can turn off all electricity. Semsamar did not do this so we have to pay an electrician to possibly break a wall to do this. We will have to build a bar outside and run a waterline. Again more expense. Then there is the problem of the toilet door opening directly into the dining room. Not up to code and more expense for us, as well as having to cover the decks."

 

The proprietors are challenging Semsamar to explain how an incomplete project made out of plywood and Sheetrock can cost 3.8 million euros. "Somebody has to be accountable,"

 

Maurice Jermin's wife told The Daily Herald." It's not just about the rent being too high. The restaurants have to be brought up to code. We have been sending letters and trying to meet with government officials since the inception of this project but nobody would listen. The project is four months delayed and we already lost part of the high season. Added to this Orient Beach is suffering from a serious case of seaweed invasion. According to Vice President Wendell Cocks it is we who will have the expense of cleaning the beach. We also have questions about garbage collection."

 

Asked what the four proprietors will do if they don't get satisfaction, she said: "I don't know yet; maybe a march or a demonstration. We will go to see the Préfète. We will make a lot of noise that's for sure."

 

The Daily Herald