The prefect once again suspends the activities of the Carrière des Deshaies. Last month, many voices were raised to denounce the company's role in the collapse of the land which threw two families into the street.
One month after the major landslide on the heights of Savane Paille, the Deshaies quarry must suspend its operations for the second time. Xavier Lefort, the prefect of Guadeloupe, signed yesterday, Thursday, January 2, a new decree forcing the Antillean Aggregates Company to cease its activity, the time for it to carry out, at its expense, technical studies of runoff and stability and seismicity of the site. Studies which must then be validated by the Directorate of Environment, Planning and Housing (DEAL) and the Geological and Mining Research Bureau (BRGM).
“These new elements constitute a prerequisite before any decision is made regarding a possible partial resumption of activity,” says those around Xavier Lefort.
To justify this second decree, the prefect of Guadeloupe relies in particular on the report from the Bureau of Geological and Mining Research. Report whose conclusions have not been made public but which were the subject of restricted distribution on the occasion of a technical meeting which was held on December 24 at the town hall of Deshaies, in the presence of the elected officials of the city, state services and the West Indian Aggregates Company (SADG).
It should be noted that the victims were not invited.
The latter therefore decided to counter-attack in the legal field. Me Arié Alimi, who defends the interests of 4 families, filed an interim appeal before the Basse-Terre court. Appeal in which the Parisian lawyer requests the cessation of the activity of the quarry, which the prefect has just done but also the appointment of a legal expert, the payment of a provisional sum of 20,000 euros and the taking responsible for rehousing its clients. The hearing is scheduled for next Tuesday.
In the meantime, the municipal decree of December 3 issued by the city of Deshaies remains in force. Access to Savane Paille by road and surrounding trails remains strictly prohibited. The risk of a new collapse is always present.
ALSO READ /
