French side today?

I'm not cutting off the other discussion, as there certainly are some good points there. But was hoping for a report on the status on the French side today, for those on island.

Maybe put in the title what the day is? 'Cuz tomorrow today is yesterday....lol

Awaiting to hear something....WiFi though intermittent

This is credited to David Royston in a public forum. Ostensibly it is from this morning.





Sandy Ground would be the area to avoid. I know that people have gotten out and to the airport via Oyster Pond route.

Gallery owner on French side has not opened in 4 days. GP who works at KKO on Orient has not gone to work since Thursday. They are losing business.

This is absurd. Show these pics to the world, even if it is in one section and you know how news travels fast, people will cancel their trips or be extremely concerned as they should. How on earth can the authorities allow this to happen or at least continue?

Was just informed from our concierge who looks after the villas in our development that they are advising nobody to venture out onto the French side yet and will keep me updated.

bran--OK, stay safe. I never thought such a thing would happen on sweet St. Martin..

That picture looks to be Sandy Ground to me. BeachKitten--are you saying that the road is open through Oyster Pond? Or someone took a boat to the Dutch side of OP?

They drove through this morning....very early. But barricades are expected to go back up. <sigh>

As of yesterday Lesley had 3 cars trapped over on the French side. That leaves his inventory low for people coming in. And the people coming in cannot get to their lodgings on French side....and are scrambling for a place to spend the night. Not good.

Leona--thanks. I'm sure all the car rental guys are in about the same situation. I do hope this can get resolved soon...

I am in Orient and leaving tomorrow. I headed out around 630 this morning just to scope things out and found the main road at Grand Case totally blocked as well as going the other way via the French quarter. Both the main road and a bypass (Rue Mullet Fish) we’re blocked. Rue Mullet Fish had what looked like a flatbed trailer across the road. No real activity going on at either spot at this time. If people have found a way to/from Orient in the last day I would love to know the way. Thx.

Where then are the authorities at these road junctions to stop this happening in the first place? Something is just not right about all of this!!

That is Sandy Ground. Not sure if I mentioned on Thursday came back from Anguilla and was just 2 cars behind seeing at least 20 youths pushing a car(I thought they were helping someone out hence the road being blocked,) until I saw them turn it over. Thought I was dreaming. Boy did I turn round fast.

sxmfantoo--Thanks for the report. Best wishes getting out tomorrow. Have you checked about a boat somehow?? Have you been in touch with your airline, to see what happens if you are not able to get there?

I am actually on the beach at La Playa with a beer in my hand. Already in contact with someone with a boat. Seems lots of people using the option leaving from Anse Marcel. Some are using it as an option to get here also. Biggest worry is the rental car but don’t have another option if roads are closed. Our plan is to try and drive out at daylight and see if any way is clear. If not, leaving the car and taking the boat. Hoping the rental car company works with us.

don’t worry about the bloody rental car. They can sort that out later. First concern is yourselves and getting out safely.

French side 1982

Marigot Market...

Whoa......

PRIME MINISTER UPDATES ON FRENCH SIDE DEVELOPMENTS

Philipsburg – Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs, supported by the Council of Ministers, decided today, in a second emergency meeting with Police representatives, senior staff of the Ministries of General Affairs, Justice, and TEATT, that Government of St. Maarten will not grant clearance for commercial cargo ships to dock at the Port of St. Maarten nor for the military transportation trucks to be offloaded and transported via the sea to Galisbay as requested by Mme. la Préfète Foucher.

Prime Minister Jacobs could also not grant permission on Saturday to a request from Mme. la Préfète Foucher in relation to allowing a convoy of 4 trucks and 10 cars to traverse from the Oyster pond border point to Bellevue in order for extra gendarmes to enter the French Territory.

Both decisions were taken after extensive deliberation with the stakeholders and with proper consideration of the negative implications, of the ongoing developments on French Saint Martin, for Dutch St. Maarten and with the safety and security of St. Maarten and its people as our main priority. Our solidarity as a St. Martin people will continue to be with our brothers and sisters in the north. We implore all who would escalate the violence to remain calm and seek to resolve the impasse in an amicable manner.

The Government assured their continued cooperation and reiterated that the lines of communication between the two governments will remain open as we continue to monitor any changes and provide updates periodically. We will continue to facilitate safe arrangements for persons and tourists going to and leaving from the French side, as well as facilitating visitors who are currently staying on the French Side. Government has also upon request allowed movement over our borders to render any assistance needed for medical and other emergencies, and pledges to continue to do so in the interest of safety and security.

The Chief of Police Carl John reassured the Council of Ministers and all stakeholders that there was absolutely no increase in any reported activity on the Dutch side that is related to the current situation on French St. Martin, however, the Justice ministry is ready with an operation plan should the situation escalate. Dutch St. Maarten is open for normal day to day business operations, and we continue to welcome our visitors during this high season.

That last sentence says it all. We are open for business but screw the French.

I am done.. I can't read anymore! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Say what??? What kind of BS is this by the Dutch side??????? BS....

For those on Facebook, there's a public group that is easy to join that has current information on the traffic situation. https://www.facebook.com/groups/621379588028148/?fref=nf. A lot of it is in French, but it's easily translated using the translate feature of Facebook.

That link has been posted here before, but it appears most everything is in French, and very difficult to follow, to me..

Sorry, I hadn't seen it here before. It's not easy to follow, but better than nothing, to me....

JD posted it a couple of days ago. Facebook in general is pretty unintelligible to me.

That's huge!! Waiting & watching. We are 19 days away from trip on French side. 😔

Looking at the pictures brought tears to my eyes and right away I felt like I was viewing photos of the horrific storm Irma. But that was natures way, this is humans destroying their own town. Police better get on top of this before people are hurt or killed. Beautiful SXM in the middle of destructive violence.

I just arrived in SXM. I will be staying on the dutch side, so is there still a way going to Orient Beach?

Suggest you wait until tomorrow and see what the status is, as of then.

Thanks Carol.

http://sxmislandtime.com/minister-o...enforces-preparedness-on-the-dutch-side/

Don't think i would travel to the french side at this time....none of this sounds good

Schools are closed Monday on the French side now.

Total government incompetence, not ensuring safety of citizens and visitors, scandalous. My Jan trip will be my last after 25 years visiting st martin. Appears to be turning into another Jamaica

Daily Herald story

"Barricades still remain in place in French Quarter and Sandy Ground."

I don't understand that how they cannot stay and guard the area once they have cleared the roadblock...to prevent it from going up again?

Sea isle, we honeymooned in Negril in 2005, I swore I would never go back because of the non-stop hassling from the airport to beach in front of our resort. 14 years later and I have kept my word.

Feb 1 will to be my first trip back to SXM in 25 years; In the 90's my ex & I did SxM 2X in 4 years with Cuba in between.

Our final AirBnB payment is coming due Mid-Jan but I will be looking carefully at the cancellation rules long before then, as well as cost to adjust tickets bought with Aeroplan points.

Too many other nice beaches in the world to visit before I put us through this stressful crap.

Bran, I have only been on the board scatter since Thanksgivings and am now trying to get my head wrapped what is going on. Are you staying in Terres Basse and have restrictions placed on you right now? I ask this because this is where we normally stay. I am currently in the process of planning a relatively large trip there. For some folks, this will be their first trip back since pre-Irma. I know that most of the maids that service the villas live in Sandy Ground. Have they been impacted?

Thanks for any info you can give.

When Locals are uprising the Government needs to also address the impact to tourists... It seems that tourists are the last thing on their agenda. Whatever!

Cancelling SXM will cost us:
$275 Cdn of the deposit we made on Orient Bay Airbnb;
$276 USD for two seats on LIAT St Kitts to SXM.
= < $500 USD plus an unknown Aeroplan change fee.

For the same Aeroplan points we can do 12 days in Grenada where AirBNB can be had for 50% of SxM rates which would help offset the SXM charges......very tempting as GND was next on our to do list anyway.

No problem at all, no restrictions whatsoever and nothing for you to worry about. I only had the maid not come this Saturday as she couldn’t get in but quite frankly we didn’t want or need her anyway and in TB they will supply other maids to cater for your needs depending on who you are going with. Regardless, if you have Carimo as your Concierge, PM me and I will give some further info as I have been well informed with everything that has been going on but as you know TB is one of the safest places to be anywhere with their in house security.

My advice to freaked-out tourists: Take a deep breath. Any time that U.S. or Canadian citizens visit a foreign country, it makes sense to learn about the country you are visiting and to talk to local residents. When we visit another country, we aren't entitled to anything. We're visitors.

Protestors are protesting for a reason. Listen to their grievances. If you have to take a boat, or drive the long way around, remember that your inconvenience may be less important than the issues that matter to the residents of the country where you are a visitor. Most protestors are polite -- talk to them. Dialog is good. Try to become allies with people in the community you respect.

Of course, you'll also encounter opportunists and rowdy teenagers as well as polite protestors. But we have those in the U.S. and Canada, too.

I see the schools will be open tomorrow. That's progress.

Here's my trip report today. At noon, I drove from Philipsburg to Orient Beach through Oyster pond direction. The French border was half blocked. It was passable but there were a lot of rocks on the road on the French side. I saw a car driving thru from the French side. I didn't risk my car, so I turned around and went to Marigot. No roadblocks anymore, although there was still some mess on my way to Orient village. A lot of gendarme stationed near the original protesting locations, but I have no problem traveling to the French side and coming back. However, I got stuck in the traffic for a looooog time. I am not sure if that is typical during rush hours?

Not anymore. Originally, the schools were to open except in Sandy Ground and Orleans. President Gibbs has now decided that all schools will remain closed tomorrow. The reasons give were the uncertainty of being able to transport the students, clean the classrooms, or provide meals.

Yes, traffic is typical; roadblocks are not.

Thanks!

bc007--traffic, yes, for sure.. Enjoy your trip.

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.

Scubaman--I really don't think it was necessary to post this on EVERY one of these threads.

Regardless, this points out that there are WAY too many threads about the same thing. Will close several of them now.