TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Border will close if SXM opens to US

Following the sharp increase in the number of positive cases on the Dutch side, the Prefect of the Northern Islands met this morning the Prime Minister of Sint Maarten. "I told him that if the necessary measures were taken, I would not necessarily close the border immediately," said the Prefect this afternoon at a press conference.

However, "if Sint Maarten reopens, as announced, its airport to flights from the United States, I will close the border. We are not able to handle planes arriving en masse, particularly from territories where there is There are a lot of cases (...) If we have a sudden increase in the number of cases, neither Sint Maarten nor we are able to manage a mass epidemic, ”she added.

1 NEW POSITIVE CASE ON THE FRENCH SIDE

Following the announcement of the three positive cases, a fourth case has been identified today in Saint-Martin. This is a contact case of Sint Maarten, indicates the Prefect of the Northern Islands. In Saint-Barthélemy, the man who tested positive went through Guyana. He is currently in segregation.

For its part, the government of Sint Maarten reports 36 cases. "At least 6 people from Guadeloupe who have stayed in Saint-Martin and who have gone to a disco in Sint Maarten are positive". This thus generated a cluster in Guadeloupe.

THE MEASURES PUT IN PLACE

The Prefect indicated that establishments organizing public events of more than 10 people without authorization will be subject to administrative closure. A new decree will also be taken to confirm the limitation of the opening hours of drinking establishments to midnight. The Prefecture reiterates its instructions to respect barrier gestures.

http://www.lepelican-journal.com/sa...zxrwuNxuhic-6PWceTeWkG1KRxnVX_IPOe-qHtf0

Well, cr*p..

From what I've read, most of the cases on the Island have come in through the French Side, from St Barts, and now they want to close the borders?

Exactly. There are plenty of people in sxm, and viceversa, using the Sbh to Sju flight connection getting into the island not so well checked and control, and now she wants to close the border? Most likely somebody in Sbh saw this connection as a business opportunity and they used this opportunity to make the extra bucks regardless of the consequences, and now Madame La Prefect wants to blame the Dutch side and close the bordet? Not honest and not helping people either working or having families on both side of the island

Thanks for the perspective and insight. Sounds pretty reasonable. This is KILLING the island economy for the working locals.

Basically same story in the Ledger today.

Link

I listened to an interview with the Dutch side tourism minister a few days ago, in which she said that they had had discussions with the French side and the French side said they would NOT close the border if the Dutch side opened to the US. Sounds like the Dutch side isn't the only ones who are changing their minds on things.

I guess the Dutch side business will get all the U.S. tourism dollars for now.

May be too late.
https://www.sxm-talks.com/the-daily...9qR9HTp2E7O6SomXIsCPNhO3v2exML8J3vH-_teM

If La Préfète is so concerned about having US travelers in St Martin, why does she allow them in St. Barts.? That is what I don't understand.

Ahh, but their borders are closed to US too!!!

No, that is not true. St Barts is fully open and welcoming US tourist, since June 22nd. All you need is proof of negative Covid-19 test withing 72 hours of travel. People staying more than 7 days have to get tested on the island again before the end of the 7 days. US travelers are flying there via San Juan. Tradewind Aviation has multiple flights each day. Story Here.

Quote from the article



Americans can also legally enter St. Maarten via St Barts. The ban currently in place is just for commercial aviation from the US.

I meant St Martin. They should have been stopped in Marigot.

Yes, only thing I have been able to figure why La Préfète is allowing Americans in St Barts versus wanting to close the borders if St Maarten opens to commercial traffic from US is the differences in status between St Barts and St Martin. St Martin, being an outermost region (OMR or OR) of the European Union and thus being EU territory and in St Barts, they switched in 2012 from an OR to an Overseas Country or Territory (OCT-- Same status that St. Maarten has) and is not part of the European Union.

Just posted on Government site.

"* Council of Ministers Meet With French Counterparts on COVID-19 Developments **
Philipsburg – In a series of meetings held on Friday, July 24th, by technical staff and today, Monday, July 27th, with the Council of Ministers and its French counterparts, current developments on COVID-19 were discussed, as well as the way forward. During the first meeting today, with Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs and Madame la Préfète Sylvie Feucher, it was agreed upon by both parties that after further evaluation during this current week, that follow up discussions would take place. Préfète Feucher expressed that she is contemplating re-implementing internal controls to better control the spread of the virus.
Shortly thereafter, the Council of Ministers also met with President Daniel Gibbs and his delegation of Vice Presidents from the Collectivite of Saint Martin to further discuss the COVID-19 developments and exchange updates concerning the increase in active cases on both sides of the island. Discussed were measures to be taken in line with the health MOU, as well as assessing the possibility to further synchronize the measures in place in order to mitigate the further spread of the virus throughout the entire island. Also discussed, were the collaborative efforts between Collective Prevention Services (CPS) and the Agence Régionale de Sante Occitanie (ARS) to discuss and share the origins of and strategy for contact tracing of new cases on both sides of the island.
The Government of St. Maarten indicated some of the stricter health protocols and mandatory measures put in place, such as social distancing in public places and compulsory use of facial protection in public, as well as a maximum number of patrons in enclosed spaces. Prime Minister Jacobs also gave updates concerning the Multidisciplinary Taskforce and Enforcement Teams that would continue to monitor, evaluate, and advise the Government on the best practices needed to swiftly crush the spike in cases once more. Mandatory mask usage is also being enforced on French St. Martin as of this week.
Further concerns for the Governments of St. Maarten/St. Martin were related to visitors from St. Barths, which has reopened its borders to visitors originating from the United States. In light of this, the St. Martin representatives indicated that US travelers wishing to visit St. Martin via St. Barths are required to have been in St. Barths for 14-days prior to their scheduled arrival to St. Martin along with a negative COVID-19 PCR test result. St. Maarten has also adjusted its measures to ensure that visitors from St. Barths would also require a negative PCR test and would be monitored as well.
Both parties exchanged COVID-19 statistics, indicating that the cases have resurged via community spread and are committed to continuous dialogue on developments on both sides of St. Maarten. Collaboration between both sides of the island has become more crucial given the free flow of movement on either side.
While President Gibbs expressed grave concern about the reopening of St. Maarten to the US flights in August, the Government of St. Maarten highlighted the preparations being finalized in order to do so in a controlled manner. These preparations include mandatory PCR testing no older than 72 hours prior to arrival, increased temperature checks, and increased medical personnel at the airport as well as to assist CPS. The Government will also continue to evaluate the health care system’s ability to handle the current outbreak.
The meetings were positive overall. Government officials from both sides of the island pledged to further research and work towards the possibility to rapidly increase testing capacity on both sides through a joint request to access EU COVID-19 funding. Both governments also pledged to meet on a monthly basis and to work towards realizing the goal of a joint congress for St. Martin with representatives from both sides."

OK, that doesn't jibe with what the Prefet was quoted as saying, so I guess the two sides can't agree on what was discussed yesterday. The French statement seems pretty clear to me..

Must be literally lost in translation.