JEK
Senior Insider
SIX MONTHS AFTER MINA, NOTHING CHANGED AT THE NATURAL POOLS OF PETIT-CUL-DE-SAC
by T.F.13/06/2023
Two young men embark on the path that leads to the natural pools of Petit-Cul-de-Sac. Backpacks, sunglasses, they walk slowly in search of the path that will allow them to access the site. After some hesitation, since they are going to the scene for the first time, they finally manage to take the right direction. The two friends then begin their descent to the pools, taking care not to fall on the purple rock. Without paying any attention to the small sign that bears the following inscriptions: "Access prohibited, absolute ban on access to natural pools, danger of death. Finally, they can dive into the pool and cool off. One of the two looks at the five stretched cords that mark the ban on access to the siphon. He asks his friend: "This is where a little girl died, isn't it? The other confirms with a nod. The scene dates from last Monday, June 5, in the middle of the morning. Because since Tuesday, October 25, 2022, the day of the disappearance of Mina Berlizon-Wetstein in the depths of the siphon, and Friday, October 28, when the decision to abandon any attempt to extract the body of the 11-year-old child was taken, nothing has really changed at the scene of the tragedy.
Access ban signs
Certainly, the Territorial Collectivity has installed a sign at the entrance to the Petit-Cul-de-Sac beach, another at the beginning of the path and a last one near the site. All with registration, in French, of the "absolute" ban on going to natural pools. Warnings without much effect, obviously. The many photos published by visitors on social networks throughout the tourist season testify to this. As for the five cords stretched between fixations in the rock to warn walkers of the danger represented by the siphon, a kind of natural flush, it should hardly impress the daring and other unconscious. Nevertheless, the President of the Community assures it, no other solution has been found, so far. "Studies have been conducted with the various services of the Community, the Environment Agency and specialists who could be contacted on whether or not to have human intervention to plug this siphon, explains Xavier Lédée. These studies are not conclusive at the moment. ”
Three options to block the siphon apart
The work mentioned by the President of the Community essentially concerns three options. The first is to inject concrete into the chasm to plug the cavity. It was ruled out on the grounds that the depth of the chasm, although estimated at about seven meters, remains difficult to determine, according to the analysis carried out by the Community's technical services. In addition, it has been argued that the tightness between the walls and the force of the pressures exerted by the waves could not ensure the durability of such a device. The second possibility envisaged by the Community was to obstruct the siphon by covering it with a metal plate. A "solution" also rejected. Due to the large size of the surface to be covered (about 40 m2) and the difficulty in permanently fixing the structure to the rock.
Finally, the last option considered: blasting the rocks that overlook the siphon to cause its obstruction by landslide. Again, this possibility has been swept away by the technical services who consider the process too random because it would risk leaving openings likely to lead to the same aspirations and other hunting effects. "The question is whether there is a technical solution that can guarantee 100% the safety of the site while guaranteeing environmental preservation and the risks of pollution that could result from it," summarizes Xavier Lédée. The answer is no. One of the difficulties is that no one really knows how it goes underwater. Putting on a grid can be very dangerous. Today, the President of the Community declares that there is "no other option considered". With, however, questions asked by Xavier Lédée: "Sou sluce this natural site closed or not? Should we install a dam all along the creed? For the time being, they remain on hold. An inertia that Mina Berlizon-Wetstein's parents do not understand and cannot accept.
The impossible mourning
Emilie and Aurélien were not present on the site of the natural pools on the day of the tragedy. It was with the mother of a friend of their daughter that she went there. "We would never have taken her to such a dangerous place to leave her unattended," they say. If they had the feeling of unfailing support from the Community during and after their tragedy, they have since nurtured a misunderstanding tinged with exasperation at the lack of radical decision-making to prevent a new drama from happening at the siphon level. Because, as their lawyer Paul Cottin points out, "the siphon and the natural pools of Petit-Cul-de-Sac are two different things and people are confusing". Mina's parents' advice recalls: "The site is truly dangerous, very accidental. At the siphon, one wave is enough. It's extremely dangerous, now deadly. ”
Bone rejections
If life has naturally resumed its course on the island since the accident, it is impossible for Mina's family to take the path of mourning. Because the little girl's body could not be extracted from the siphon, but also and above all because two incidents have indescribably revived their suffering in recent months. Indeed, in December and then in February, holidaymakers who had gone to the site of the natural pools discovered bones thrown into the basins surrounding the siphon. "It's unbearable for parents, Master Cottin plague. They have still not been able to organize a funeral. And to see that nothing was done more than six months later is just as unbearable. Our priority is to stop these bone discharges. We want the protection of the child's remains to be ensured. Recovering the bones in the siphon is technically not possible. Therefore, at a minimum, we want this place to become his final burial. However, it is no longer time for bruised patience.
An ongoing investigation
After requesting the analysis of an expert to obtain clear answers on the possible technical possibilities to obstruct the siphon, Mina Berlizon-Wetstein's parents intend, with the help of their lawyer and if the solution does not evolve, to turn to the prefecture of the Northern Islands. Because the prefect, in the field of public security, has the power to replace the Territorial Collectivity to take measures. If the criminal investigation ordered to elucidate the causes and circumstances of the daughter's death is still ongoing, the family lawyer does not rule out starting other legal proceedings. Before civil and administrative proceedings. "We don't want to get to this point," says Maître Cottin. I can't imagine that we can get to this point. Simply because plugging this siphon is common sense. The definitive extinction of a legal risk on a deadly site seems to me to be a problem to be solved. As for the fear of a case law that could result from such a measure, the lawyer sweeps it with a back of the sleeve. "Being led to ask the question of securing dangerous sites on the island seems to me to be excellent news," he says. And the fear of being engaged on other potential sites cannot be a brake. ”
While all these issues of safety, expertise and procedures are discussed, the pain of Mina Berlizon-Wetstein's parents remains more vivid than ever. An unspeakable feeling mixed with the exhaustion related to steps they did not imagine they had to take. Even less to initiate.
| From October 25 to 28, the tragedy On Tuesday, October 25, while under the supervision of the mother of one of her friends, Mina Berlizon-Wetstein was caught by a wave and sucked into the depths of the siphon of the natural pools of Petit-Cul-de-Sac. A vast rescue operation is immediately set up. It involves the Territorial Fire and Rescue Service, the gendarmerie, but also public and private reinforcements from the island, Saint-Martin and Guadeloupe. The population of Saint-Barth is also mobilizing to participate in the research to find the body of the 11-year-old girl. This is finally located in a cavity of the siphon, more than five meters deep. On Friday, October 28, after days and nights of unsuccessful efforts, the decision was made to stop operations. |
