Canada Issues Travel Advisory

Daily Herald Link

Terrible reporting. These are advisories from February and March 2017 about two viruses.
https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/sint-maarten

It appears there was another travel advisory issued on May 29 or May 30.

I don't see it

I looked again. It's the same thing. Nothing extraordinary. Here's a screen shot.
Phew!

Whatever, it was updated on 5/29.

I am just the messenger and posting a link to what was in the Daily Herald.

IMHO, if ANYONE thinks there is no crime or danger, they need to re-evaluate things and I am a 27+ year visitor.

There is mention of crime just as there is for virtually any country

When I stayed at a villa on the hill at Oyster Pond in the late 1980's the owner which I became a friend of told me to be careful of the breakins. When he came with his wife to stay at their villa , they had to sedate their dogs from their hometown and bring them to their villa in OP for the wife to feel safe. As the real estate values tripled in about 5 years, he sold the place and bought another In Monte Vista which is a "guarded' place to stay.

So my point is Oyster Pond area which is close to the border is always a dangerous place to stay because the perps can cross an international border ( even though there is an agreement NOW) to escape.

What ever happened to the woman investigation of the that left the Westin and was found dead close to the border? Many years ago.

Hurricane Irma just brought the attitude of many of the locals out. But the "visitors" can't understand.

Wendell

Canada has recently changed the travel advisory for Canadian citizens travelling to St. Maarten/ St. Martin from exercise normal security precautions to now exercise a high degree of security precaution. This puts the island in the same category as many high risk travel countries. This is very concerning to me as this island has never been on the travel advisory previously in this manner. Recent crime and safety of travellers has been cited as the reasons. Avoid all non essential travel is the next step in this advisory and I really hope the island gets things in order to avoid that!

Thank you Elizabeth. That is exactly how it appears and has nothing to do with two viruses. Very sad.

"Exercise a high degree of caution
There are identifiable safety and security concerns or the safety and security situation could change with little notice. You should exercise a high degree of caution at all times, monitor local media and follow the instructions of local authorities."

Travel Link

Above is the same link MissSunfish posted. Click on the various tabs to see Risk Levels, Safety and Security, Health, etc. It seems pretty clear to me and was just updated May 29, 2018.

It has nothing to do with "terrible reporting" as MissSunfish alluded to. It is what the Canadian Government recently issued (May 29) for St. Maarten.

its just plain common sense to always take precautions when on St Martin, especially if you are staying at a residence/accommodations without proper 24 hour security. It may be the "Friendly Island" but its also has its dangers. As for Mosquito related viruses, thats something that everyone should be aware of and take note but thats def nothing new.

This is not good for the island. A handful (or maybe more) of criminals are going to keep tourists from coming to SXM and there goes the economy! Many of our friends have already said they will not return. No island is without some crime but I think it has increased in SXM due to Irma. Let's face it. Who has money in their wallets now on the island. Tourists are prime targets.

Nothing really has changed. Without police presence or response this will go on. We have been going to Island since the mid 80s. have things changed? yup and of course. But when we stay in at night, not dirve around to certain areas, not go to french side especially marigot like we used to?We have given up alot that we loved and did. Our home on Island is gated, before that, many robberys. Lights on all over the house, and with that we keep our fingers crossed. No this is not being negative, this is the real deal. You can vacation in a secure resort, but those that live there have many issues, and those that have homes. Have to find ways to stay safe. Not good for the Island, but the Island is not what it was for many reasons, Irma is just the nail in the coffin. Yup very negative, but unlike you all, I know the real deal...

Again: The high degree of caution is because of Irma, it does not specify crime. The risk updates are related to health issues. I understand Canadian Federal Government communiqués working for them for 30 years. Normally, I'd just let this go, but it bothers me that this is being seen as something it isn't.

This relates to the travel advisories not the truth as anyone else sees it. And I'm done with the convo. Going to have some wine now and dream of returning to Sxm, cheers guys! 😊

Well IslandGem is from Canada and has been a long time respected poster on TTOL. Her post is much different from yours. This does not seem to be a health issue.

I too think the world of IslandGem and her contributions to TTOL but in this specific instance and talking specifically about the change in "Travel Advisory" as made by Canada in regard to the both sides of the island, Miss Sunfish was correct. The reason for the change in the advisory was specifically about the lingering effects of Irma as referenced on the Canadian Government's webpage. The direct line referencing the change is "Exercise a high degree of caution in Sint Maarten due to damage caused by Hurricane Irma." (also, this was issued 3 days before the start of the new hurricane season) They use this same exact line when referencing the French side of the island. Nothing about the change in "Advisory" is attributed to anything else.

On the Canadian Government travel site, if you click on the "Safety and Security" tab when on the page referencing St Maarten, they say most visits are trouble free but that there are incidents of crime and most of it is petty crime. They go on to make the same recommendations that we have all heard about being aware of your surroundings and locking things up.

Let's stop making a simple thing like the change in Advisory from Canada a big hullabaloo about crime being so horrific on the island, especially when the change had nothing to do with crime.

Sighs, and I'm sure she's wonderful, but wrong in her interpretation.

A voice of reason. Sorry every one, but it pissed me off to read misinterpretations of facts. I'll have more wine I guess😊

I guess if anyone has an issue with this reporting, they can take it up with the government of Canada. It seems pretty clear to me when one looks at the tabs on the advisory link that include the dates of the health related warnings and the updated travel advisory.

We are done here.