TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Tractor Trailer Rig Protest-Horns Blaring

https://www.facebook.com/carl.javois/videos/2645772582183290/?d=n

Trucks parading en masse

The honk of the angry horn... This ain't over yet!!!!

This video is long past the trucks which is an impressive display but then goes on for a long time showing the interaction between the locals and the gendarmerie. It must be a very tough job being sent in.

You also see how bright all the locals are being bi and trilinqual and able to communicate with the gendarmes who are probably only French speaking with some English.

I love the French aspect of SXM but there are questions for the long term future here.

I have been so impressed with the education system and the locals I have met. The radio hosts during the hurricane could be working anywhere in the USA.

I think these folks want more from their local govt and maybe less from “their” French govt.

Agree, folks are serious. I don’t think they want violence. They want attention to matters and change.

I think there is no question that they are serious and that they have very valid concerns. Aside from the question of violence, they simply CANNOT allow the protesters to block all access from the French to the Dutch side.

The fragile economy on The entire island will be affected .

100% correct. Besides stay over visitors, if this gets to the point the cruise ships stop coming, it could be disastrous. It has permanently impacted what I will do in regard to the French side. Throw in the scooter/cycle harassment we experienced in March....I am DONE with any commerce on the French side.

"f this gets to the point the cruise ships stop coming, it could be disastrous"
But I though as discussed by you and others on another thread the cruise ship passengers don't spend any money to support the island. LOL

I do not recall saying any such thing. Others may have. I am not one to bash cruise ship visitors as that is how we first went there and several times thereafter.

I didn't say you bashed it. Just that I recall you posted in that conversation.

I mentioned Diamond International and the "miracle salve" people. I never said one word about cruise ship passengers not spending money to support the island. You post in a lot of conversations, some you agree with and some you don't. Am I to assume if you post in a conversation you DO agree with it?

I thing that is their point. They know when everybody gets the big money and all Holiday Visitors are inbound from all over including “Mother France”. What better leverage point than the week before the weekend everybody boards their planes. Evidently, they are willing to make the sacrifice to take a stand.

The trucks are impressive. And bigger than the Gendarme trucks.

Nope. Can't assume that.

I wonder if the grocery stores have been able to resupply and restock?

I'm sure on Dutch side there was no problem.

Well, duh...lol

of course the Dutch side would have no problem...all of this pertains to the French side and the French protests....so of course this was questioning whether the stores there are able to resupply.....

I realize this is a French side problem and topic. Not disputing that fact. But French people shop for groceries on the Dutch side too. But I won't do the Well, duh...lol to you.

But, only when they can safely get there.

Correct

Posted on St Martin News
"According to the latest info we received the Minister is cancelling PPRN and. The protest is over, clean up time. Got this from F.Q. I just confirm. A new prefete one that was here before will be coming in January to sit down and map out a new plan with the people"

Correction. Postponed for 3 months.