Alain Richardson touts Saint Martin's investment, housing, green energy ambitions

MARIGOT--First Vice President Alain Richardson has used a series of Los Angeles Times special supplement features to outline an ambitious development agenda for French Saint Martin, highlighting plans for major housing expansion, new hotel rooms, infrastructure upgrades, renewable energy and a technology hub as the territory seeks to position itself for long-term growth.

Richardson said Saint Martin is actively seeking to raise the standard of its hospitality sector in response to demand for boutique hotels, villas and short-term rentals. He said the local government is in discussions with a number of private investors and expects a minimum of 1,200 new hotel rooms to be added within the next three to four years.

“We have, for example, implemented a policy for elevating the standard of hospitality, as there is demand for boutique hotels, villas and short-term rentals. The government is in discussions with many private investors, and we expect a minimum of 1,200 new hotel rooms within three to four years,” Richardson said.

Housing is also a major part of the development strategy. Richardson said Government has introduced a program intended to stimulate construction, with a target of building 1,800 homes over six years. At the same time, Saint Martin is prioritizing the infrastructure needed to support expansion, including water and electricity systems.

Richardson, who is also President and CEO of Semsamar, said the company remains deeply involved in housing, urban planning and infrastructure development across Saint Martin, Guadeloupe, Martinique and French Guiana. Semsamar is 51 percent owned by the Government of Saint Martin, with the remaining ownership shared among other French Caribbean partners and financial institutions.

He described Semsamar as a major player in social housing and the private housing market, with the company building, owning and managing residential developments while also assisting public and private investors with wider investment policies.

Among the projects highlighted is a planned 160-unit development in Chevrise, expected to begin in 2026. Richardson said the project will cater to both rental and ownership markets, with almost 50 units set aside for affordable home ownership.

Semsamar is also involved in reshaping the entrance to Marigot, with plans aimed at supporting new infrastructure and commercial spaces. Richardson said the company is negotiating a major land acquisition connected to the establishment of new electricity and water plants and is planning a technopole to consolidate Saint Martin's digital and technology-driven sectors.

Richardson's comments on infrastructure were echoed in a separate Los Angeles Times feature examining Saint Martin's wider economic and development direction.

He said the territory's energy plan combines renewable sources, including biofuel, solar energy and the reuse of waste materials. Looking further ahead, Richardson pointed to the possible use of geothermal energy from dormant volcanoes within the next 10 to 12 years.

“Our energy plan combines renewable sources, including biofuel, solar and the reuse of waste materials. Looking ahead, there is potential to harness energy from dormant volcanoes over the next 10 to 12 years. This could involve neighboring islands, creating more secure green electricity for the region,” Richardson said.

His comments place energy security alongside housing, tourism and infrastructure as core parts of Saint Martin's development strategy.

Richardson also presented the French side as offering strong potential for investors, pointing to the territory's political structure, financial environment, workforce and demand in sectors such as tourism and construction. His comments in the Los Angeles Times features portray Saint Martin as a territory seeking to move beyond recovery and into a more structured phase of investment and expansion.

The scale of the plans outlined is significant: at least 1,200 additional hotel rooms within three to four years, 1,800 homes over six years, new electricity and water infrastructure, redevelopment at the entrance to Marigot, a technology hub and a longer-term renewable energy strategy that could eventually involve neighbouring islands.

Taken together, Richardson's comments reflect an effort to position French Saint Martin as more than a tourism destination. The wider vision presented is one of expanded housing, modern infrastructure, green energy and targeted private investment, with Government and Semsamar playing central roles in shaping the territory's next phase of development.

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