TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Total ban of umbrellas in Grand Case??

The Daily Herald seems to be having some issues today and sometimes you can get to it and sometimes not. Daily Herald story This seems to say it is a COMPLETE ban on umbrellas and chairs.

I was blown away with what Grand Case beach looks like! I don't go there often, it used to be a sleepy little fishing village with nice restaurants!

They are punishing everyone with beach chairs because of the stupidity and disrespect of one business owner. Such a shame! Hope they will reconcile this in a proper manner so everyone can enjoy this nice beach.

This was my favorite beach on our 1st trip 29 years ago.

It is still a lovely beach and I hope it doesn't get destroyed by all the government foolishness.

How unfortunate! Do they really want to kill beach tourists from going to Grand Case? Hopefully they will re-think this decision or allow those that are following the rules to continue doing their business. Seems like knee jerk politics to me.

Again, I really don't know exactly what the ordinance is supposed to say. This story seems to say that they are in fact banning ALL umbrellas and chairs, but at the time it was announced, supposedly it was only that they can't block the entire beach down to the water line with chairs and umbrellas.

Yes, they plan to ban chairs and umbrellas at the beach restaurants; however, owners are appealing.

A TOTAL ban? As when this thing was first announced, some members who speak French said that they read the original proclamation and said that the ban was ONLY to not totally block the beach and that chairs and umbrellas would still be allowed, so long as there was room to walk the beach.

See this thread

I think that the language of the new regulation is broader than many thought - because they hoped it was not so broad. I read the ban on the lounge chairs and umbrellas on the beach (however beach is defined) as being a total ban - unless and until new authorizations are obtained. I wonder if this is to help a few "preferred" friends and family. Have to see how it plays out on the chairs and umbrellas. Also the documents generally are using the term Collectivitie - which is the word for the entire french side - but it gets translated by the computer as "community" which can suggest a lesser reach than what is really enacted. For example, the reference to trying harder to keep stray animals and nudists off the beaches is general as to the entire Collectivitie, not just the Grande Case "community." Have to see how this gets enforced or not.

Again, I had asked that question to begin with, what the ban on nudity referred to. It appears that, like the displaced restaurants on Orient, that the proprietors of businesses on the beach in Grand Case, are totally in the dark as to what the government is doing.

Hey, it adds to the mystery of Saint Martin....

Is the Rainbow Cafe the business that is next to him that keeps being referenced to in the article?

I personally don't know.

Yes. Rainbow had dancing and music on the beach recently until 2:30 A.M. It is this type of behavior that is causing the problems.... NOT the umbrellas on the beach! The local people and even the visitors staying in Grand Case don't appreciate this noise.

Sxm Epicure Club shared Love Beach Grand Case's photo — feeling thoughtful.


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Ok guys... It's now official. No more beach chairs on Grand Case...
I don't do politics but I'm just sad for hard working people like the owners of the beautiful place LOVE BEACH HOTEL and the others of course...
And the high season has just started...
Your thoughts?

What made it official? Was there a vote and firm decision?

Yes - there was an official decision of Collectivitie which appeared to ban old/existing concessions authorizing chairs and umbrellas on beach, with provision for new authorizations to be given. I have no idea what is actually happening on the beach - maybe somebody knows.

Sooo, everyone will have to apply for a new permit for chairs and umbrellas on the beach, it sounds? Sounds very unfair to those who are already in business, and depend on that income.

Looks like the first official warning has been handed over to Love Residence on Grand Case Beach. Link
The letter and article are in french so I will give a summarized translation.

LETTER

It has been observed that you are occupying a portion of the public domain of the beach of Grand Case by the presence of tables, chairs, loungers, parasols or other equipment.

In accordance with articles 1 and 2 it is forbidden to occupy the public domain without authorisation.

In addition, the excutive council, assembled on November 17th decided on the prohibition of commercial occupation of the public domain.

To be precise, no (AOT) Temporary Occupation Authorisation will therefore be issued for this type of occupancy.

To correct the situation you are invited to remove your belongings from the public domain within one week from the reception of this letter.

If you do not comply you expose yourself to procedures regulated by laws R116.2, L116.2,R442.2 and L442.8

ARTICLE

Today the tourist establishments get the first warnings:

The collectivity just transmitted a letter to the "Love Residence" establishment advising it of the irregularity of the situation for "public domain occupation withoiut authorisation". The collectivity specifies that no AOT will be issued to the establishment. A non-respect of this decision exposes the occupant to a fifth class fine of 1500 Euros.

The ban applies to tables, chairs, loungers, paralsos and also watersports.

We are very fond of William and Muriel who run the Love. I hope that they can obtain proper authorization as what they do on their beach is pretty classy and likely an important part of their lunch business. It certainly doesn't impede beach strolling and there is more than enough area on the beach towards Rainbow and the private areas for folks to bring their own picnic etc. It is always a tough situation when you make business investments based on environmental/legal variables that aren't static.

Just had a lovely lunch and afternoon at Rainbow sitting in their lounges and under their umbrellas. Looked up and down the beach and there were plenty of lounges and umbrellas and walkers up and down the beach.

Unfortunately, I cannot find it in the online version, but a story in today's Daily Herald states that the ban is total and permanent, and restaurants/etc/ will have 7 days to remove their chairs and umbrellas, or face fines. Curious how the vote came about, according to the story. The Executive Council consists of 7 members, only ONE of which, President Aline Hanson, voted in favor of the ruling, with FIVE abstentions and one person absent. That seems so odd to me.

So, anyone on island, if you want to go to the beach in Grand Case, do it NOW..

Le Pelican says there were 6 abstentions and just the 1 vote in favor. Apparently, as long as there is a quorum, a single vote in favor with no opposed is good enough. They must be expecting a negative reaction from the public with 6 members of the council abstaining. How this plays out will be very interesting.

Either way, seems kind of sketchy to me. I honestly don't understand what they are doing and why they are taking these actions which at least some residents (and in this case, many tourists) will object to.

Sure seems like someone ticked off the wrong person.....
Why just Grand Case, and not ALL of the beaches on the French side? Is the collective just for Grand Case?

No, this particular ordinance only applies to Grand Case, but goodness knows what the government has in store for the rest of the french side.. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Crazy.gif" alt="" />

This is shocking! We're planning on a week-long stay at Le Petit in April. I sure hope they get this straightened out before then. I can't imagine not being able to lounge on the beach in front of the hotel. And this is horrible news for Calmos!

I don't know, it just doesn't make any sense, places like LePetit and Calmos, not causing problems for anyone, that have been there forever.. Doesn't make any sense..

Will this also include Grand Case Beach Club?

I contacted them but haven't heard anything yet; however, the club doesn't usually set up on Grand Case Beach but on the side called Petite Plague. On the Grand Case Beach side the loungers are usually on the grass.

This makes zero sense. No one is going to go to a beach where they can't get a chair or umbrella. Sounds like someone wants these establishments out of business so they can grab the land and do their own thing. And why kind of 'government' can pass these things with 1 vote and 6 abstentions? What about people bringing their own chairs? Does this apply to that too?

The ruling only applies to businesses placing chairs on the beach. The beaches are all public, and bringing your own chair is still allowed.

Has there been any new info on this topic? I can't imagine the beachfront businesses standing for this.

I guess it is a done deal. The beach vendors were supposed to have a week to comply or face fines and I think the week is up. I really don't know if it applies to hotels also or not..

There have been some recent postings online that show several of the establishments are pushing back and starting to put umbrellas and chairs back out, Rainbow for one. Monday of this week, a photo showed no chairs and umbrellas out. Then a few on Tuesday, and more today at another location. Guess we will have to wait and see what happens.

I think Captain Frency's is allowing patrons to take a lounge and umbrella to the beach. The ban is on the restaurants / hotels etc, therefore a private person can take a chair and umbrella to the beach. It's one way of getting around it. The Grand Case Restaurants / Hotela are appealing the ban. There has to ba a happy medium.

Yes, Captain Frenchy is "lending" chairs to their guests. I did see the photo where Rainbow had set up chairs, in violation of the ruling.

Perhaps the hotel can put a couple of chairs in each room and then the people bring them out when they wish to sit on the beach? Or rent from Pack Light.

Has anything changed? I would like to spend a day at Rainbow, but not if chairs and umbrellas are prohibited.