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Re: Protests on the French side again? [Re: Carol_Hill] #270324
12/02/2021 07:55 AM
12/02/2021 07:55 AM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,081
Massachusetts
boucharda Online content
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I wonder if it's actually French side working residents and business owners doing the blockades, setting fires and trashing businesses OR is it the unemployed scooter crew that now have a "reason" to let it all hang out. I am leaning toward the latter....

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Re: Protests on the French side again? [Re: boucharda] #270326
12/02/2021 07:59 AM
12/02/2021 07:59 AM
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Posts: 17,476
Ohio
ruralcarrier Offline
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LINK

Probably like in the US, bands/gangs of youth and those who are unemployed or choose NOT to work doing the damage.


J.D.
Re: Protests on the French side again? [Re: Carol_Hill] #270335
12/02/2021 09:20 AM
12/02/2021 09:20 AM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 295
Lake Orion, MI
gomer36 Offline
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Supposed to go to the Loterie Farm today, but I think weโ€™re going to punt. We were going to stop at Croissant Royal on the way, so would have taken the Sandy Ground route. We have friends with us, and as such I feel responsible for their safety. Glad I stopped in for a quick read, thanks for the info everyone.

Went to Orient yesterday via the causeway, and got there in record time..nice day at Kon Tiki.


"We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch - we are going back from whence we came." ~ John F. Kennedy
Re: Protests on the French side again? [Re: Carol_Hill] #270336
12/02/2021 09:20 AM
12/02/2021 09:20 AM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,081
Massachusetts
boucharda Online content
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So there are not any fixable goals to stop the chaos. So much for issues as a reason for protest. I feel bad for those who are really sincere in trying to get their point across to the Government about their problems.

This is not a protest. It is just the scooter crowd showing their true colors and I really can't see what would change their attitudes. If it is jobs then they are destroying that potential and they are creating a history that will stick in the minds of potential visitors for a long time....the French side will be known as the side that is unpredictable and potentially unsafe.

Re: Protests on the French side again? [Re: boucharda] #270338
12/02/2021 09:32 AM
12/02/2021 09:32 AM
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Ohio
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Very well stated.


J.D.
Re: Protests on the French side again? [Re: ruralcarrier] #270342
12/02/2021 09:52 AM
12/02/2021 09:52 AM
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Posts: 82,469
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline OP
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JD--I posted that link yesterday. And I agree, I don't think this is people with a legitimate grievance. This is young thugs, who have no jobs because they don't want to work, too much easier to hang out on their scooters and commit the occasional robbery for spending money. Working people with a legitimate grievance don't throw Molotov cocktails at gendarmes.


Carol Hill
Re: Protests on the French side again? [Re: gomer36] #270343
12/02/2021 09:53 AM
12/02/2021 09:53 AM
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Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline OP
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gomer--I don't blame you. No WAY I would be going through Sandy Ground these days..


Carol Hill
Re: Protests on the French side again? [Re: Carol_Hill] #270344
12/02/2021 09:56 AM
12/02/2021 09:56 AM
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Posts: 17,476
Ohio
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Sorry, I guess I missed it. You are spot on with your assessment of the situation. I would avoid the French side at all cost of I were on the island.


J.D.
Re: Protests on the French side again? [Re: Carol_Hill] #270381
12/02/2021 11:49 AM
12/02/2021 11:49 AM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 18,560
St Maarten
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Elaine
*********************************
God Bless the broken road....
Re: Protests on the French side again? [Re: BillandElaine] #270385
12/02/2021 11:51 AM
12/02/2021 11:51 AM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,564
Auburn, WA
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What a Sh+T show.

Re: Protests on the French side again? [Re: Carol_Hill] #270388
12/02/2021 11:59 AM
12/02/2021 11:59 AM
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 291
South Carolina
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I've looked at Google Maps, but I wanted to confirm here that there is a way to get from the airport to Orient without going through the areas with the protests/unrest. Are these areas possible to avoid?

Re: Protests on the French side again? [Re: BillandElaine] #270390
12/02/2021 12:05 PM
12/02/2021 12:05 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,469
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline OP
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Oh my god...


Carol Hill
Re: Protests on the French side again? [Re: dvesc] #270395
12/02/2021 12:18 PM
12/02/2021 12:18 PM
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Posts: 82,469
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline OP
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dvesc--The most reliable way is the Causeway to Marigot, through Grand Case to Orient. But, there was a protest in Marigot last weekend, which was poorly attended because of rain. Traffic was slow, but moving. Definitely do NOT go via Sandy Ground or via French Quarter (or Orleans) and also avoid Nettle Bay.


Carol Hill
Re: Protests on the French side again? [Re: Carol_Hill] #270398
12/02/2021 12:28 PM
12/02/2021 12:28 PM
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 7,461
Vermont
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If I have to avoid Marigot, Sandy Ground and Orleans why not avoid the French side altogether?

Guadeloupe and Martinique have swat teams and Special police from France being sent to control the unrest. Does St. Martin want this kind of action where real bullets are flying?

Re: Protests on the French side again? [Re: Carol_Hill] #270399
12/02/2021 12:28 PM
12/02/2021 12:28 PM
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 291
South Carolina
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dvesc Offline
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Thank you. The more I'm seeing this, the more concerned I get. It's to the point now that I'm looking at accommodations in Simpson Bay instead of Orient.

Re: Protests on the French side again? [Re: sxmmartini] #270400
12/02/2021 12:35 PM
12/02/2021 12:35 PM
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Posts: 1,625
United States of America
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A few of them sleeping in body bags might stop some of this behavior.


Be Happy! Simply because you deserve to be. ๐Ÿ˜
Re: Protests on the French side again? [Re: dvesc] #270401
12/02/2021 12:35 PM
12/02/2021 12:35 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,564
Auburn, WA
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If this keeps up more people will be looking into accommodations on the Dutch side instead of French side. Better book sooner than later.

Re: Protests on the French side again? [Re: dvesc] #270402
12/02/2021 12:37 PM
12/02/2021 12:37 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,469
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Carol_Hill Offline OP
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dvesc--If you are able to cancel your other booking without losing a lot of money, that's what I personally would do, if you can find someplace you like on the Dutch side.


Carol Hill
Re: Protests on the French side again? [Re: ruralcarrier] #270408
12/02/2021 01:14 PM
12/02/2021 01:14 PM
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Vermont
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Remember cash for clunkers? Why not offer money for these scooters not worthy. No questions asked just turn it in for cash.
Crush all these scooters and do not allow anymore imported scooters on SXM.

Re: Protests on the French side again? [Re: sxmmartini] #270412
12/02/2021 01:36 PM
12/02/2021 01:36 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,564
Auburn, WA
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"Why not offer money for these scooters not worthy. "
Huh?

Re: Protests on the French side again? [Re: Carol_Hill] #270414
12/02/2021 01:51 PM
12/02/2021 01:51 PM
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 291
South Carolina
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dvesc Offline
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Carol, we can cancel our AirBnB without penalty until Dec. 11, so it's still possible to make a change. The next step will be finding a place that is still available on the Dutch Side.

Re: Protests on the French side again? [Re: Carol_Hill] #270419
12/02/2021 01:59 PM
12/02/2021 01:59 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
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Auburn, WA
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Now they are throwing paintballs at the Gendarmes. As they say "Inmates are in charge of the prison".
LINK

Re: Protests on the French side again? [Re: SXMScubaman] #270420
12/02/2021 02:07 PM
12/02/2021 02:07 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,469
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline OP
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...actually, I think it is "inmates in charge of the ASYLUM"


Carol Hill
Re: Protests on the French side again? [Re: dvesc] #270421
12/02/2021 02:08 PM
12/02/2021 02:08 PM
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Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline OP
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dvesc--OK, I would do that, at this point.


Carol Hill
Re: Protests on the French side again? [Re: Carol_Hill] #270430
12/02/2021 03:10 PM
12/02/2021 03:10 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,564
Auburn, WA
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Originally Posted by Carol_Hill
...actually, I think it is "inmates in charge of the ASYLUM"

Yep.

Re: Protests on the French side again? [Re: Carol_Hill] #270433
12/02/2021 03:35 PM
12/02/2021 03:35 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,081
Clearwater, FL
Biturbo Offline
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We are looking forward to our vacation next month in Orient, mainly because it could be our last one (at least for a while). We go to St. Martin primarily for the French side. Two years ago, in order to leave Orient and go to the airport we had to take a small boat from Anse Marcel because the road was blocked. Since then things have gotten worse. It hurts to say this, having gone there since '85 on our honeymoon. But having to worry about getting around is no vacation.


I'm going where the weather suits my clothes.
Re: Protests on the French side again? [Re: Carol_Hill] #270468
12/02/2021 07:29 PM
12/02/2021 07:29 PM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 18,560
St Maarten
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Last edited by BillandElaine; 12/02/2021 07:35 PM.

Elaine
*********************************
God Bless the broken road....
Re: Protests on the French side again? [Re: BillandElaine] #270476
12/02/2021 08:53 PM
12/02/2021 08:53 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,564
Auburn, WA
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Herald link already posted.

Re: Protests on the French side again? [Re: Carol_Hill] #270511
12/03/2021 09:51 AM
12/03/2021 09:51 AM
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Posts: 82,469
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline OP
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Curfew in place for Sandy Ground. Link


Carol Hill
Re: Protests on the French side again? [Re: Carol_Hill] #270512
12/03/2021 10:00 AM
12/03/2021 10:00 AM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,081
Massachusetts
boucharda Online content
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That was only for last night but "can be renewed if necessary"

Re: Protests on the French side again? [Re: boucharda] #270516
12/03/2021 10:40 AM
12/03/2021 10:40 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,469
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline OP
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I expect that it will be renewed, from day to day.


Carol Hill
Re: Protests on the French side again? [Re: Carol_Hill] #270521
12/03/2021 12:02 PM
12/03/2021 12:02 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,564
Auburn, WA
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And bringing in "human and material resources".

Re: Protests on the French side again? [Re: Carol_Hill] #270718
12/05/2021 08:48 AM
12/05/2021 08:48 AM
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 55
Philadelphia.PA
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Seaisle Offline
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Thank God we cancelled our Jan vacation, this has escalated out of control

Re: Protests on the French side again? [Re: Seaisle] #270873
12/08/2021 07:41 AM
12/08/2021 07:41 AM
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,398
Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
GaKaye Offline
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Originally Posted by Seaisle
Thank God we cancelled our Jan vacation, this has escalated out of control



We're here, and have had no problem at all, except for going through Marigot on Black Friday. We've been to Grand Case, Friars, and Orient, multiple times without issue.

Re: Protests on the French side again? [Re: GaKaye] #270881
12/08/2021 09:53 AM
12/08/2021 09:53 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,469
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline OP
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Georgia-I am glad that you have had no issues that have affected your vacation. But again, the problems on that Friday were NOT related to Black Friday sales at all. (I don't know, if there even such a thing as Black Friday on SXM??) There were protests that day, just not as big as they would have been, because of bad weather.


Carol Hill
Re: Protests on the French side again? [Re: GaKaye] #270979
12/09/2021 05:47 PM
12/09/2021 05:47 PM
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 142
Ontario
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Canuck54 Offline
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We too are on the island and have had no issues at all, we are staying in Orient Village area but have made numerous trips to the Dutch side. Have used Oyster pond route, French quarter and Marigot all are fine. Have had no reason to go through Sandy Ground and itโ€™s never been my route of choice. And Carol, we have seen adds for Black Friday so it is a thing even on SXM although probably not to the degree as in the states.

Re: Protests on the French side again? [Re: Canuck54] #270981
12/09/2021 06:59 PM
12/09/2021 06:59 PM
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Posts: 82,469
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline OP
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Canuck--OK, I didn't know about Black Friday one way or another, but the fact that there WERE protests on that day was in the Daily Herald..


Carol Hill
Re: Protests on the French side again? [Re: Carol_Hill] #271006
12/10/2021 09:02 AM
12/10/2021 09:02 AM
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,398
Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
GaKaye Offline
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Carol, there are absolutely black Friday sales here; the paper is full of ads. And the weather was fine that day. I'm not saying there weren't protests, but the shopping traffic could have also been a factor.

Re: Protests on the French side again? [Re: Carol_Hill] #271009
12/10/2021 09:17 AM
12/10/2021 09:17 AM
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Posts: 1,625
United States of America
bdeeley Offline
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Black Friday is a common sales tool in many countries. It is mostly a marketing tool used to gin-up sales. On SXM it is not as organized and marketed as it is in the USA. What is interesting is some resorts use Black Friday to create a sale for deeply discounting rentals. You can also find quite a few jewelry stores having special sales around Black Friday.


Be Happy! Simply because you deserve to be. ๐Ÿ˜
Re: Protests on the French side again? [Re: GaKaye] #271013
12/10/2021 09:57 AM
12/10/2021 09:57 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,469
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline OP
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Carol_Hill  Offline OP
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Georgia--are you still in SXM? I thought you went home?

Anyway, all I know is that the Herald reported there were protests in Marigot that day and the next..


Carol Hill
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