“I will do my best!” The first words of the new prefect Patrice Latron

Officially installed in his duties as prefect of Reunion Island this Monday, November 18, Patrice Latron, 63, gave a few words to the media this morning after the traditional wreath-laying at the Saint-Denis war memorial.

Obviously, the first questions focused on the weather situation, as a cyclone formed in the area quite early.

“I arrive with a lot of humility”declared Patrice Latron in the preamble. “I don’t know Reunion Island, I don’t know the specificity of the weather phenomena in the Indian Ocean. I experienced these phenomena for six years in the West Indies, but not here”he recalled, in reference to his missions as prefect of Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélémy, then as secretary general of the prefecture of Martinique.

“I have a general approach, but I need to immerse myself in the specificities and particular organization of Reunion Island”adds Patrice Latron, before developing the priorities he thinks he will give to his action.

With, first of all, “the cost of living problem”a subject “that I will talk about with elected officials and see what I can bring in connection with the overseas ministry”, assures the prefect.

“There is also the problem of violence against women, which I understand is a very important phenomenon in Reunion. Half of the violence against people is intra-family violence and against women, that concerns me”adds Patrice Latron.

On delinquency in general, the prefect believes that, “delinquency is unbearable”but he does not have “the feeling that it is more unbearable here than in a certain number of sectors”.

“We don’t make drug users feel guilty enough.”

Patrice Latron, new prefect of Réunion

Saying to have “appreciated the fight against drug trafficking” his predecessor Jérôme Filippini, Patrice Latron assures that he did not “I have no intention of slowing down on this subject, which is a factor in fueling delinquency.” And consider turning a little more on “the subject of consumers. I think we don't make them feel guilty enough. I'm going to see with the prosecutors if we can sanction them more, because as long as there is demand, there is supply.”

Another priority mentioned: “A very important one is agriculture.” The prefect promises to take a close interest in it, “and in particular the cane sector” “It’s a particularly, exceptionally bad year” he emphasizes, assuring that he would surrender “from next week in front of the cane producers”in order to “look at what we can do to help this important part of Reunion’s agriculture.”

“State services are ready and I must be up to the task”concludes Patrice Latron. “I have experienced health crises, an earthquake… I will do my best!”