Thanks for posting. Unfortunately these are things people need to think about. A few observations/recommendations for the current situation:

I would not travel to the French side until further notice. If you have reservations on the French side in the near future, strongly consider switching to the Dutch side or canceling altogether. The French side is very dangerous right now.

If you are on island and you encounter protestors, do not attempt to engage them in any way. Do not try to discuss the situation with them, even if you sympathize with their plight. If you are a visitor, understand that you do not have any real awareness of the people or issues involved or what their motivations are. You do not want to get drawn into a discussion about any of this while emotions are high, because you never know if you will unintentionally say something inflammatory.

Do not, under any circumstances, confront the protestors OR gendarmes over any issue. Both groups are under extremely high stress.

Even if you agree with the protestors, you don't know if any given person is there for good reasons (legitimate protest) or bad (looting, stealing, etc.), so don't assume anyone's motives. If you find yourself near protestors, the only thing you should be thinking about is how to quickly and safely get as far away as possible.

If you are in a car, try to stay in it. Your car provides physical protection, and more importantly, mobility. Use it, and when you do, the only road rule to follow is whatever gets you away from the unrest quickly and safely.

If you do have to abandon your car (which should only be as an absolute last resort), park it in an unassuming location if possible and get off the streets as quickly as possible. Try to get to a location that has security staff, such as a hotel, bar or restaurant and try to get transportation back to your residence. I would stay away from local groceries and pharmacies, as those seem to be magnets for looters. The big groceries have security staff and can be locked down.

Finally, remember that even if a situation looks calm, that can change in an instant and you do not want to get caught unaware.

Some people (like the French ministry of tourism) are trying to minimize it, but what is going on right now on the French side is serious. As much as I love SXM, it pains me to think of what is happening, and I feel for the people involved, but if you are on the island as a tourist, the number one thing you should be thinking about right now is your own safety.

Very good points.

Correction. Postponed for 3 months.