TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Beacon Hill Looters Update

I just received a message that Looters are demanding $$$$$, food, your Diesal, Women etc.

I cannot confirm it as accurate but the people are scared.

Sorry, it's been at least 4 hours and the military isn't there yet?

Who are you hearing this from. Has anyone walked out to where the marines supposedly are? If they are getting the info to you, are they getting ahold of authorities?

I can only report what I get . It is easy to think straight from afar. Try being scared to death and without help.

How is this information getting out to you? Are they not able to call/text/tweet/email 919? or 911...the State Dept lists 911 on Dutch side. Conflicting reports it seems.

Yeah, I know it might be early to say this, But. This is what I have been seeing SXM morphing into. In 1996 after Bertha there was NEVER any looting. ALL SXM'ers were helping each other. NEVER any looting. the island has changed so much. I miss sooo much the the SXM I once knew. This is my opinion...

My heart is very sadden for all these events.

Wendell

Wendell, in '95 after Luis there was looting. The Ram grocery and liquor got looted big time.

I'm aware of that. But if your getting that info, you must also be getting other info, like have police or marines showed up. Have you tweeted this stuff out to the marines?

Yes. but nothing like this. I can understand water and food. But a frige?

And there was just looting and curfews in Houston. This is by no means unique in the history of the world. Sad but not unique.

True Wendell, very true.

I am very much afraid that when this is over...many horrible stories will come out. The lawlessness, anarchy and chaos does not couple well with no communications.

Lots of looting in the BVI also..

To a point I would even give them the benefit of the doubt...scared, no water, no food, no help, I can see looting for food...desperate times, desperate situation...but what these people, and I use that term loosely, are doing is just way above and beyond the limit, I'm sorry...this is going to put a hurting on the entire island and the already limited reputation it has been earning lately......I called today to cancel my rez for march..first non visit in 17 years.....resort states "they're quite sure they will be fine by march" ...my a%%....sorry, don't see that happening....and denied a full refund...not happy but I'm not spending my hard earned vacation $$ to be afraid or uncomfortable....will take some changes big time...god bless the dear st maarteners...the good people I've met so many of thru the years...not these thugs

It's the flat screen tv's that are stupid. When do you think you will have electricity to watch that? Or cable?

That is my point

resort states "they're quite sure they will be fine by march"
What resort?

At this point in time I'd rather not say...waiting for a return call from the reps "manager", will see what he/she has to say....but I could use my rez for Mexico! Thx but no thx...

Your reservation is in March, it's been not even 48 hours, maybe a bit premature to cancel at this point until they have a full grasp on what is going on there. Just my opinion

Your thoughts accepted. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> my thoughts are I dont want to be there this march... I feel so bad about all of this, its very sad but hold good thoughts for all <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

The looting and especially robberies had to be stopped! They need a martial law to be in place and the people who are running around with machetes and weapons - shot on site! That will put the end to the banditism pretty quick.

It is one thing to say " the resort will be ready" and another that is the infrastructure, other tourist places, restaurants will be ready.

Wendell

It seems to bother a lot of you by my reporting what I get from people who either are there or have friends and family on Beacon Hill. We own on Beacon Hill and I certainly understand their fears. If you ever have been to Simpson Bay Beach at El Zifaro or Beachside villas , you would know the stairway from the beach to Beacon Hill. The military from what I have heard are at the roundabout in Maho guarding the Beacon Hill entrance and also Maho but no one has patrolled the beach entrance to Beacon Hill. The stairway is the only access to Beacon Hill from the beach.
I hate having to post this but if I don't I would feel worse.

I respect and understand everything you say.

Wendell

Totally understand. But has the military come through. Has anyone gone and gotten help. I posted all over FB and tweeted out to the Dutch Military. I'm not gonna keep doing it if help has arrived. Which is why I asked if your getting info. Are you getting info about the Marines. If they are out at the round about. Has anyone gone personally and told
Them? Or are people
Held hostage?

I honestly don't know. All I can post is what I have been receiving and I reported as soon as I got it. I am not sure about police at the roundabout as well. I do believe that the looters took advantage of the steps from the beach .

I live in Houston, and after the terrible tragedy from Hurricane Harvey there was very little looting. 24 arrests from the last count I heard in a city of 4 million. The officials made it perfectly clear what the punishment would be if caught, severe. The curfew here worked like it should. My wife and are so sad about what has happened to the beautiful island of St. Maarten that has given us some of our best memories in our life. Seeing the devastation first hand here in Houston and then the destruction of the Caribbean Islands is just incomprehensible.

They need more french and dutch troops on the pronto, they need to spread out into all sectors, they need some painful but not lethal deterents, bean bag rifles or something, and of course lethal in a hopefully very rare cases.

Along with this widespread food and water and medicine distribution

And shelter


Imho

There is a distinct difference between looting and robbing people, residents of Beacon Hill or anywhere. There is a distinct difference between looting a food store in order to feed your family because you are in need and afraid, and stealing TV's, Stereo's, Jewelry, because you are a thug.

As Wendal said it is a fear that he had and I am sure many had unless you ostriched. The gang faction has slowly been becoming larger.

A lawless society insures that SXM may lose Tourism and without it, what is there?

The island sure has that element but i thought it was as pleasant and happy and safe this June than it had been in the immediate years prior. Better contentment on both sides and possibly better employment, i dont know, whe just felt good walking on both sides at night

Anyway, as they say "five attaboys gets wiped out by one awshit", and this is a big awshit....... pardon my st martin french

Enough of all these unhelpful "opinions"!
How about posting some useful information or don't post at all. There are people on island that really need help.
This bantering helps no one.

Running low on poison I see...

I guess you did not read the previous post and how I requested help from the Dutch Marines via twitter and received a response, and posted in various FB groups for help and the two radio stations. And I can't seem to get an answer as to whether help had arrived. I wasn't going to keep posting and tweeting without more info. And if one can obtain the bad information, I'm not understanding why the other information can't be obtained. This was the second time I have heard of first hand reports of thugs with weapons coming via boat to areas that were supposedly "safe".

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article172469001.html <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/pirate.gif" alt="" />

Kim:

I was not responding to you or talking about your posts.
Yours were more than relevant.

Instead of trying to help, many others are just blah, blah, blah.

i think if you actually understood the massive size of the population that was affected by Harvey in the Houston area, and the tiny amount of "looting" that was alleged, you'd realize how ridiculous your comment to downplay the looting in SXM is