Gibbs won the historic election by virtue of massive support in St. Barths where the five polling stations closed at 6:00pm. St. Barths was to be the undoing of Guillaume Arnell where he was only able to muster 328 (22.79%) votes compared to 1,111 for Gibbs (77.21%).
With the results already in from St. Barths, it remained to be seen how the votes would play out in St. Martin with polling stations staying open till 8:00pm. The resurgent Arnell in fact won in almost all districts except for two in St. Martin where he proved to be more popular winning 3,420 votes (53.30%) to Gibbs's 2,997 (46.70%). But it was not enough.
By 10:00pm it was clear that Gibbs was the winner with a total of 4,108 votes from both islands (52.29%), compared to Arnell's 3,748 (47.71%).
Of the 22,738 voters registered in both islands 7,856 voted (34.55%). There were 298 blank votes.
Gibbs was mobbed by a sea of supporters in Hotel de La Collectivite when it was clear he had won. Many carried the orange and green flags of the Union for Democracy (UD) party. In between giving interviews, and with his father Victor Gibbs at his side, he was finally able to address the cheering crowd. Guillaume Arnell was nowhere to be seen.
"Tonight I want to address a hearty and republican greeting to my opponent Guillaume Arnell. I'm pleased that during this campaign for a historical vote in our Northern Islands we tried to be respectful."
"I want to say to the voters and supporters of Guillaume Arnell, to the voters and supporters of my other opponents in the first round, even though you haven't given me your votes, I can hear you."
"I want to say thank you to Miot Richard, my co–deputy, and I insist in using this term because it's a perfect translation of the partnership that we intend to carry out with a strong voice from Saint Martin and St. Barths in Paris".
"Thank you Karine for your trust and your motivation and a sincere thank you for your presence at my side for our common engagement."
" I address my republican regards to all responsible political representatives in Saint-Barthélémy- to the President Bruno Magras, to the Senator Michel Magras, to the elected of the majority and to all the electors of the sister Collectivité. You understood all the complex stakes of the common deputy of our young overseas Collectivités at the National Assembly. You supported me unfailingly and I won't deceive the trust you put in me. I address my militant thanks to my electors and my supporters. This victory is not my victory it's yours. It's the Northern Islands' victory."
"I'm conscious that you didn't turn out to the polls "to take revenge"on the territorial elections-or simply to win a new election. You placed me at the head because you're aware of the importance of the task that awaits our Collectivité and because you are anxious to break away from the actual way of governing, and anxious to change our political engagement."
"Tonight I want to conclude a moral agreement with you for the five years to come. Be at my side during these five years, talk to me, come to meet me, I won't only listen to you, but I'll hear what you have to say too. I'll be taking you to Paris to make Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélémy's voice heard. I'll be the mouthpiece of your hopes and aspirations, the invested defender of our common interests. This victory is yours!"
"Tonight we're going to celebrate this victory, our victory, your victory, without forgetting, however, all the challenges that are awaiting us and are going to engage our Collectivité in the future. A deputy is not- must not be-one man. We're going to fight these battles together. We're going to take up these challenges together. The surge of hope which began on March 11, 2011, with the creation of Union of Democracy has not reached its climax (highest point) with today's victory. This is only a new start tonight. Yes everything begins tonight."
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