« I born here » is an expression that was very popular in Saint-Martin, in the late 80′ and in the 90′. It was born out of the extraordinary demographic explosion that took place on Sinmartin north as a result of the 1986 law on defiscalization voted by the french government. That law was suppose to booster the economies of the overseas territories of France, through investments made in exchange of very favorable tax breaks. And indeed many investments were made. But the adverse effect of the law, is that the local workforce was quickly overwhelmed by the too high number of building projects to carry out all at once. The construction economy attracted, in an uncontrolled way, a considerable number of « workers » from the caribbean (Haïti, Dom Republic, Dominica…) but also metropolitans in search, maybe of fast money, surely for new opportunities to conquer and a why not, a paradise under the sun.
The authorities had lost control over immigration.
That fast tract economy did not benefit the people of sinmartin in general.
The population went from 8000 hab in 82, to 28 000 in 1990…thus establishing in a few short years a new societal paradygm.
A much broader analysis of the when and why and how all of this happened would be necessary but that is not the object of this paper.
One of the consequences is that Sinmartiners were more and more marginalized, in term of numbers evidently, but also as a work force, because, among other things, it was easy to underpay immigrants in the construction field , and it was profitable to use seasonal workers from France in the hospitality activities.
All public services became overwhelmed…
Schools were over populated and most of the teachers were beginners whose biggest wish (for many of them) was to get back to their native Guadeloupe as soon as possible. (We are not blaming them)
The hospital became specialized in bringing babies to life. 800 deliveries per year, half of which from mothers coming from other caribbean countries…that is how is created a new ethnic group of « born here » from immigrant background.
Housing was largely insufficiant which led to the creation of « ghettos » with very poor and fragile living facilities…which led to the whole post Luis saga (but that’s a whole other story), and a very fast but poorly thought out construction of social housing.
Sewage disposal became a problem
Social services, postal services or even judicial services were not up to par.

Hereafter are two accounts of the social (bad) feelings of the people of those days.
A lot of people will relate to both of this stories…

First…La Belle Creole
(taken from an instagram page managed by Stephie GUMBS, https://www.instagram.com/onthisdaysxm/ )

Today is May 30th and on this day in 1988, an article from the Newsday was published concerning a strike that took place at la Belle Créole hotel in Nettle Bay/Low lands (Pointe du Bluff).
The hotel which was part of the Conrad Hilton chain opened in February 1988 and a few months later, the local workers noticed that they were being laid off while Europeans and foreigners were still employed ? The management argued that it had no choice but to employ foreigners due to the lack of qualification of the local workers.
During its era (1986-1995), La Belle Créole was an important employer for the French side with over 170 rooms and 149 job positions. During the construction of the hotel, the mayor of that time had noticed that St.Martiners were not applying for key positions and the unemployed youth wondered why some of them had not been sent abroad to attend trainings for these positions.
Once the workers decided to act against the situation, the UDTSM union supported them by organizing a go-slow which led to negotiations with the mayor but also with the vice president of the Conrad Hilton corporation.
The negotiations were successful for the workers who obtained a training program and were assured that the expansion of the hotel would prevent layoffs.
This was one of the first times that the hotel workers of the French side had the support of a union in their labor struggle.
Lake Jr, Jose, Friendly Anger
Jeffry, Daniella, Saint-Martin Déstabilisation sociétale dans la Caraïbe française

Second… a trip to Saint-Pierre et Miquelon
The association « St martin’s People Consensus » presided by Daniella Jeffry (which association was born out of the custom crisis of 1990 (but that’s a whole next story) went on a fact finding mission to Saint-Pierre et Miquelon from the 8th to 11th of April 1991. The delegation was led by Mayor Albert Fleming. Saint-Pierre et Miquelon is a small (6000 hab) french territory of the coast of Canada. It has been and is still an important historical fishing station for cod fish (salt fish). France keeps it, probably because of its strategic importance. Throughout its history it had changed status severall times, reason why we wanted to do a case study there.

On the 18th of April 1991, a public meeting was held to expose our findings. The following is excerps of Daniella’s report.
(Taken from «  Bulletin municipal n°11, septembre 1991 »)

My take of all of this, is this…
What we are today is the result of what took place in our pasts.
And today is not yesterday but yesterday must not be erased, because human societies are generally a continuum between past and present… although it could be sometimes difficult to find « the common thread »
…And what we will be depends on what we will do with what we are today.
We cannot change the past but we can better mold our future, based on our past, using age old best practices and trying hard not to repeat our mistakes.
That is why it is so important to know events of our past.

So therefore… « I born here » or more generally « I from here » is a privilege to be proud of, but « I from here » implies the great responsibility of being above average, in our professionnal as well as in our social and cultural lives.

The next step (political, institutionnal or societal) will benefit us, if we decide to augment the level (quality and quantity) of engagement in nation building of « we who are from here »…whether we are here by no choice of ours, or by choice.
And that starts by acknowleging the yesterdays that made today possible.
That’s my belief.