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Sint Maarten Pride Foundation
13 hrs ·
Update on access to Bay Rouge beach.
Pictures taken today: security is stationed at a closed gate.
However, After speaking to the security, very helpful gentleman, they explained that access is not denied, there is access on the side of the gate for pedestrians. Vehicles will not be allowed to park inside anymore as it’s private property.
Beach visitors will have to park their cars on the side of the road. 😒
When questioned if the french police will allow parked vehicles on the roadsides, they shrugged 🤷‍♂️
Not sure if the Collectivite and French side Tourist office can mediate this situation, but it’s not safe ( traffic and crime) situation to have cars parked on the roadsides in lowlands and having to walk to the beach.

Link to their facebook page with comments.
https://www.facebook.com/sintmaarte...-fVKnzCX53e1Aw_M&fref=nf&__xts__[0]=68.ARBhJKw-q_4u7PzBKwZlqkPJkRAzY6O7oCVXdHxU76xUV-okuGRsipexB2Jx_hKFn5CTRe2pkVmfaYs5LIcZrENo9XKxaDx6x61F3ykdmuk9pd-ebi0XksPTCivo43wxh-Fd7aaA7K5k-BN4isu_Q4EgplH_my8wn5H-8HLjf3FGPi6Kkcx8nfonnA&__tn__=kCH-R

That is absolutely ridiculous! All they are doing is cutting off the access to the public beach. How many cars can be parked on this road? How many people are going to walk to the beach carrying the coolers, chairs and umbrellas since there is no more rentals due to the closure of Gus’s and Raymond’s?
Just watch, you will see the parking fees in affect there pretty soon, they will start to charge for parking if you want to park in the old lot.

I actually doubt there will be any parking fees. It seems to me that the whole purpose is to block access to the beach except for those who live inside that gate. The villas/etc that are there, those people are not interested in getting a few bucks for parking. They want to prevent the unwashed masses from using 'their' beach..

Agree, Carol. That's what it sounds like.

True Carol...:-( I don't want to go into a big debate about permit or no permit......I just feel very sad for Gus, he a very good friend of our for well over 20 years. He lost just about everything he had from the hurricane....most of his house except a small concrete room he luckily built years back, furniture, clothes, cars.....now his hope in rebuilding his beach bar is gone. He can't get a permit to rebuild his house either....government says "No". We've spoke a few times this past week......he is so very down.....he said to me "The happy story has come to an end". For island people in his age group [70's and up] that have had their small business for 30 to 40 years can't comprehend the new government rules and regulations.....understandably so. It has been their way of life for as long as they can remember. Now because of Mother Nature all that has been destroyed! Another thing he said to me..."Debbie, government and Mother Nature may have me down, but I still have my life and my family".

The people in the Villas and Owners Asso. have finally gotten their way...:-(

God Bless Gus!

I also love that beach and think Gus is a really nice person and feel bad for him. I am pretty sure what has been used as a parking lot for years is a private residential lot. I would think all beaches are pubic but I do not think their is a way to get to the beach without crossing a private lot unless you come by boat. Not all of the Villa owners had a problem with Gus and the other one being there but enough did plus as said no permit, water, power, proper bathrooms plus they had free free rent for years and years. Parking on the road is not good either as its not safe and just will piss off others. Not maybe places in the USA would allow that not permit biz to go on for a day but in SXM it was allowed for a decade. I don't know why now but its really to bad they can not work out something properly and legal so we can all enjoy one of the best beaches on the Island.

A governing document of the Lowlands Association (the Cahier des Charges) provides that there must be public access provided to Baie Rouge - just as there is access provided to Long Bay and Plum Bay. My recollection (but could be wrong) is that the width of the access must be at least 3 meters wide. I think it was Lot 183 that was (is?) owned by the Association and through which the access was to be provided. The Association probably would be open to having some parking (as exists at other two beaches) if they could be assured of keeping the beach bars off the beach.

With all do respect folks, I think that we will see the parking fees. Here are my thoughts on it: yes, the people who live there are not your typical time share owners. But think about how much money the assossiacian can make off the parking fees: on a typical beach day during the season there are between 15-20 cars there. Sometimes less, sometimes way more. But for arguments sake, let’s say 15. Each pays 5 euros...75 euros a day times 30 days=2250 month times 6months=€13,500 Add another 4-5K for the rest of the year.they can collect around 20K annually.
And it is fine with me IF they are going to provide some facilities like bathrooms etc. IF they allow another beach bar there or chair rental business - they can make even more money. Some of the villas there are rentals, so the owners don’t give a rat’s butt about privacy etc. I guess time will tell.
Also, this beach has been very popular with locals. I think there might be a commotion among locals to make sure that people have an access to the beach.