[The essential of what Monsieur Magras had to say, after several opening salvos challenging the methods, motivation, and honor of those involved in this affair:]
The 40 room hotel development that André Balazs proposed in Salines, on land purchased from local families and for which he requested a variation from the urban zoning map, was not intended to be constructed on Saline beach itself but behind its dune, already compromised by an old sand quarry.
Like many others, M. Balazs was received at his request by the president of the COM, and like many others he was informed that his request would be considered by the Conseil Territorial. Contrary to the false accusations made by M. Maxime Desouches, there was no committment on my part in favor of the project.
Attempting to seize the political moment, M. Benoît Chauvin, unsuccessful candidate of the 2007 territorial elections [whence M. Magras' party captured 72% of the vote and 16 of 19 seats on the Conseil Territorial], attempts a political "coup" by drafting and circulating a petition calling for the preservation of the urban zoning map's "zone naturelle" and soliciting the organisation of a referendum on the measure.
Amazingly, during the November 23, 2010 meeting of the Conseil Territorial, the Conseil adopted by 18/19 votes the urban zoning map maintaining the "Balazs" property in the "zone naturelle". The lone dissenting vote was...Monsieur Chauvin!!!
As concerns M. Zara, co-director of Tradewinds Aviation, who following the publication of the Vanity Fair article has challenged the quotes attributed to him, I have this to say: Tradewinds Aviation is authorized to operate flights between American and French territories. On multiple occassions, however, Tradewinds operated flights between French and Dutch and French and British territories. As a direct competitor of St-Barth Commuter [of which M. Magras is the sole proprietor] I discussed the matter with M. Zara who, apparently taking me for an idiot, was surprised when I referred the matter to the proper authorities in Paris and took his revenge by siccing his journalist friend on me.
According to one citizen selected to be interviewed for the article, Monsieur Hennequet, apparently disgruntled over not being selected to serve on various committees, the elected officials of the island are nothing but my lacqueys informed of meeting agenda and of how they should vote minutes before the start of Conseil meetings. The law however obliges that members be given documents requiring their vote 12 days before meetings except in case of emergencies where that period is reduced to 5 days!
Regarding environmental issues, I am said by this rag of a publication to be totally disdainful. Obviously, I reject and will always denounce the intolerant arguments of these "retro environmentalists" yearning for the days of kerosene lamps. I am a realist. I am conscious of the facts that in order to protect the future of St-Barth it is imperative to reconcile economic development, social solidarity, and protection of the environment.
[M. Magras goes on to list several examples of projects he has initiated demonstrating his interest in protecting and preserving the history, traditions, and natural beauty of the island]