We had a quick chat with a sales lady in Marigot marina last February. She was saying that the reason why the French side is so run down is because there is way more welfare and socialism on a French side than on a Dutch side. Lots of Frenchmen come over from France and just survive on a welfare payments. Especially if they have kids... French side spends all the money on welfare and there isn’t much left for the infrastructure and other projects. Dutch side is different, more like “if you don’t work- you don’t eat”.