This was a government promise since 2023: Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélemy now have a joint full-time prefect; the local representative of the State was placed under the supervision of Guadeloupe, until now.
The current prefect delegated to the State representative in the communities of Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Martin, Vincent Berton, becomes the first full-time prefect in the northern communities. The corresponding decree (No. 2025-38) was published on January 9, 2025. This text deletes references to the delegated prefect and reorganizes the system of signing delegations, replacement and interim of the State representative. It also extends the scope of intervention of the joint departmental general secretariat of Guadeloupe to the prefecture of Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Martin.
The aim of this change is to improve the action of the State in these island territories.
The creation of this full-time prefect position is a further step towards the divorce between Guadeloupe and the Northern Islands, formerly common to the Guadeloupean archipelago. It was the subject of a promise made in 2023 by the government, within the framework of the Interministerial Committee for Overseas Territories.
Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélemy, which became communities on July 15, 2007, have also benefited, since January 2024, from an independent gendarmerie command, therefore emancipated from its Guadeloupean supervision.
And already a year ago, the local authorities were calling for an autonomous prefecture.
The only thing is: the prefecture, for the time being, retains its current status as a delegated prefecture. Another decree will be necessary for it, in turn, to hold full powers.
ALSO READ: A full-service gendarmerie command in Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélemy – 01/17/2024.
