INTERVIEW
While France seems to be emerging from the coronavirus crisis, economic recovery is at the heart of the government's concerns. Except that some territories still suffer from a wide distribution of Covid-19. This is the case for example of Mayotte or Guyana, where Jean Castex went on Sunday, and where Sébastien Lecornu, the Minister of Overseas, is still present. And in these territories in particular - and in the overseas territories in general - the recovery will necessarily be specific. "We have to adapt. Obviously, we are not going to organize economic recovery in Eure in the same way as in Guyana", explained the one who was precisely mayor of Verdon, in Eure, in 2014 and 2015.
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But Sébastien Lecornu started by defining the priorities. "The emergency, first of all, is support for businesses in difficulty. Because there, I am in a territory that continues to experience containment, so with a certain number of economic sectors that are at a standstill, I am thinking very strongly, in particular, of catering, "he said. "For example, we are going to double the first component of the Business Support Fund to bring it from 1,500 euros to 3,000 euros. This is the component, in a way, rescue for the economy which is in difficulty."
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And then ? "Obviously we will have to unlock resources, think differently for the revival of the local economy", detailed Sébastien Lecornu. "It will go a lot through public procurement, because in the overseas territories, the municipalities and the local authority have a role to play in terms of investment works in school equipment, roads. So there, obviously, there will be means which will be which will be released ", he assured.
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And while Jean Castex was mocked for having spoken of Guyana as an island, Sébastien Lecornu defended the ultramarine policy of the executive. "No, the Overseas are not left behind, far from it," swore the minister. "The President of the Republic, moreover, is one of the heads of state of the 5th Republic to have visited most frequently, in the various overseas territories. There are many opportunities on these territories. There are also a lot of issues, ecological issues, institutional issues. We know very well that the Caledonian process continues to unfold in accordance with the agreements. There are climate issues ... issues that must fascinate the whole of the French nation and therefore all French people. "