French side

FROM A REPORT FROM A FRIEND ON ISLAND---

Orient Beach is closed. Perch is closed. Gendarmes saying 130euro fine .
Crazy times.
Be safe.
carib cheers
doctorj

Crazy times indeed. You're supposed to literally stay inside your house all the time? I thought you could go out to purchase food or to receive a carry out order from a restaurant?

I am sure there are exemptions but you can’t go and enjoy the beach on the French side according to a friend on the island.
They can travel back and forth to the Dutch side and visit the beaches there.

Was informed by condo owner that as of 12pm we are allowed to only get groceries and sports(short walks). Just returned sports walk from Orient Beach at 1:30pm and beach was almost empty. She also said that we may be under curfew after 6pm, but that was not official as of noon.

Oh, doctor, I thought from your post that you are on island???

Please, people, if you report what someone TOLD you, please state that.

M & L--thanks for the on the scene report. Please keep us updated.

I don't understand why they would close a wide open beach with plenty of room for "social distancing" ? How can a next to deserted beach be a problem if your are staying far away from people. I understand the other stuff but.... That just seems like very excessive control.

No sorry.
Scheduled for May. My friend has been texting me.

Ok, sorry for the snippy response. Just trying to make sure we don't spread misinformation.

This morning (Tuesday the 17th), there were about 16 people enjoying the beach at Baie Rouge, on the French side, with no interference from gendarmes.

Carol - We are on the island now, if you need accurate information. But we are staying on the Dutch Side

Maria and Steve--please do post your observations, Dutch or French!

AUC spouse--Do you live on the French side? Is AUC open? Do you anticipate an issue crossing between Dutch and French side?

I'll second the "Why would they close an open air salt weather ocean fed beach?" ...sunlight and fresh air is a good thing

Carol,
On the Dutch side. The road from Cupecoy to Baie Rouge was open this morning, with ordinary (light) traffic. AUC is open, although classroom instruction has been suspended, with all instruction now occurring online. Some AUC students will stay in St. Maarten to finish the term, while other students have elected to return to their homes in the U.S. and Canada to finish the term.

Carol, you still waiting to see what happens re your intended May trip?

Doctorj is correct. St Martin is under a lockdown order, the same as the rest of France, with limited exceptions for essential purposes such as such as grocery shopping and picking up food. The lockdown is from Noon yesterday, for 15 days. People who do shop for food technically need an Attestation de Déplacement Dérogiatoire (Certificate of Derogatory Movement), which they can get on the honor system. I don't know how strict they will be about enforcing the lockdown. The Attestation/Certificate can be downloaded from the St Martin/St Barth government website at

http://www.saint-barth-saint-martin...ustificatif-de-deplacement-professionnel

There are both French and English versions on the page.

Bahston,
One justifiable reason to leave one's home (in France) is "short trips, close to home, related to the individual physical activity of the people, excluding any collective sporting practice, and the needs of pets." (En francais: "déplacements brefs, à proximité du domicile, liés à l’activité physique individuelle des personnes, à l’exclusion de toute pratique sportive collective, et aux besoins des animaux de compagnie.") That justifiable reason can be used to visit a beach close to one's home. I think such trips are legal.

AUC--thanks.

Bahston--thanks.

bran--We have not made any decisions regarding May yet. May is FOREVER away, in the course of this thing..

I hear you Carol and you are right. Unfortunately we had to cancel ours due to AA cancelling our flights until May 6, we were due to return May 5th. Yet they have not as yet notified us.