Macron visits French Caribbean islands hit by Irma

By Hajer M'tiri

PARIS

French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday visited the French Caribbean islands of St. Martin and Saint Barthelemy hit by Hurricane Irma five days ago.

Upon his arrival in Guadeloupe, Macron told reporters his country has "put in place one of the largest air lifts since the Second World War," adding a return to normal life was an "absolute priority".

Some 40,000 people live on the French side of St. Martin, and about the same number on the Dutch side. The tiny island was one of the first areas lashed by powerful winds and rain, leaving four dead and causing widespread destruction.

A total of around 9,000 people live on St. Barts, and most were left without shelter.

Macron's visit comes as his government faces criticism for not being prepared for the disaster and reacting slowly.

The French leader said he was "in favor" of setting up a parliamentary inquiry committee and "the government will have to answer for its actions before parliament".

Macron later flew into St. Martin on a helicopter to survey the damage as the authorities and aid agencies seek to deliver supplies of food and water.

Prime Minister Edouard Philippe on Monday unveiled the government’s reconstruction plan for the islands. He said getting potable water networks back online would take three months.

Some 278 survivors from the French Antilles arrived at Paris’s Charles de Gaulle Airport on Monday on a military aircraft from Guadeloupe.

So far, the natural disaster throughout the Caribbean has caused more than two dozen deaths, at least 10 taking place in French territory.