A deal in early 2024 declares the French government in St. Martin — the Collectivité — the sole manager of Marina Port la Royale in Marigot, clearing the way for refurbishment and development.
The marina had suffered heavy damage in Hurricane Irma in 2017 and further deteriorated during the impasse between the Collectivité and St. Martin-based mixed capital company Semsamar. Throughout, a handful of restaurants and shops remained open. During a lunch stop in March 2024, Caribbean Compass editor in chief Elaine Lembo walked the docks and captured these images.
