Oh boy.. arrived on the Ferry from Anguilla early. On the way to Sandy Ground. Saw smashed cars with windscreens taken out. Police by the market By the market just standing there. Turned round.. tried to get round the back of Marigot, streets blocked off again Police doing nothing. Now at Arawak Restaurant just waiting. Nobody knows what to do. Trying to get to Terres Basses and someone said that Bellevue is clear and then take the causeway, but not sure how to get there from here. Madness!!! In for a long day.
I'm really not that familiar with all the workings of Club Orient, but I really don't think that the PPRN is the main problem there. From my understanding, the PPRN IS a big problem in local areas like Sandy Ground, where people are being prohibited from rebuilding.
Not too smart with 5 ships in port. French side have enough issues & people come to that market in Marigot. Those stalls & restaurants will suffer as well as tour buses. Not good
Made it back safely. I saw a destroyed car that obviously had been decimated recently by whoever, collected by a pick up truck that was originally blocking the road. Had to go over the bridge route. What I can’t understand is why the Polive just allow this to happen. When we had originally tried to go the Sandy Ground way, 2 cars in front of me I saw at least 20 youths tipping a car over to obstruct the road. Now initially, stupid me thought, how nice, they are moving the car out of the way, thinking it had conked out, hence the traffic, they were actually pushing ot towards the bridge to stop vehicles from entering. I heard later from a cop who actually understood and spoke some English that they had initially blocked that area with a bus!! I just didn’t have it in me to question what exactly they are doing in this situation but from what I saw, absolutely nothing! We turned round very quickly and got the hell out. hate to think if there was some people in the car that they turned over and what happened to them? For the first time ever, got a bad feeling and wonder if there is just some terrible incident that will occur in the near future. Eerie feeling and Marigot was dead, no business’s doing any business, some had just closed and asking the owners and waiters who some had to walk into work up to at least one hour just about at their wits end with all these recent strikes. Arahawak also no longer do breakfasts, can’t afford to pay the cook from early in the morning until 11.30. A sign of the times we are in. Not good. Sad for the people who try so hard. Did though by going a different route back find Sublime. Yes, not the best location, took a menu away to study as just wanted to get the hell back. Safe but did feel extremely uncomfortable at the time.
The Dutchside would only do a land grab for possible airport or public road expansion. The Frenchside could do a land grab to take property for the State. For example AW33 Orient Beach where an AOT was given leasing the land for 5 Beach Bars. That land was Beauperthuy land and was taken in court when Beauperthuy died and the heirs went to court.
Update....10 minutes ago got a call from Tropicana telling us not to come tonight for dinner. She can see fires burning from where she lives and Be Kool opposite has closed the shutters as a precaution and doesn’t know if he will open tonight and nor do they. WTF is going on ? So will possibly try nowhere special if traffic is not insane unless you guys tell me differently.....
Yea, anyone know if this is continuing today? So Yesterday, was on the way to Nowhere Special at 5 pm. Got to the roundabout leading into Puerto Cupecoy and Police we’re stopping each car from basically going into France. The traffic must have been backed up for miles. Spoke to the officer who says Dutch side no problem but couldn’t guarantee the situation for us getting back home not to mention how long it could take from the Restaurant. Took no chances and first had a drink at Steviez whilst I walked around wondering where to eat as I was starving. Not a great fan of Mario’s as I think they are overpriced....$15.00 for hummus? Plus lacking in atmosphere. Checked their menu out again and my thoughts haven’t changed. Altrios wasn’t impressed the last time and Rendevous too casual. That leaves a Chinese place and Mama Pizza. Went in and saw the chef and asked if they could do a soup for the wife. No problem, where are you they said as we will get some veggies from the grocery. Wow I thought. 10 mins later wife had a fantastic pea and cauliflower creamy soup and I had eggplant parmigiana followed by mussels and gnocchi in cream sauce then Tiramisu coffees and drinks. Well priced, great service and not just a Pizza place. By the way, the Christmas decorations and how the whole area is beautifully lit up is nicely done and there is security everywhere. When leaving no police or traffic and home in 3 minutes.
Forgot to mention. Mama only takes cash. And Steviez when I gave her a $50.00 note for the drinks she gave me change of Euros and dollars but the euros did me short by about $1.11. Not a big deal but that’s all she had in the draw. Would take a CC but for a 5% charge. I told her to get the change as didn’t want euros. She eventually did so!!
There was no traffic in Cupecoy yesterday. If Dutch police were turning you back it's because of the violence happening in Sandy ground and blocked roads everywhere. THIS is what they helped you miss.
There was no traffic in Cupecoy yesterday. If Dutch police were turning you back it's because of the violence happening in Sandy ground and blocked roads everywhere. THIS is what they helped you miss.
Préfecture de Saint-Barthélemy et de Saint-Martin 13 hrs · [demonstration of December 12]
DENY:
The borders with the Dutch part have not been closed. The Prefecture asked for the kpsm (Korps Politie Sint Maarten) to guide people and prevent them from engaging on blocked roads.
Elaine ********************************* God Bless the broken road....
We're currently staying in Orient Village and have to get to the airport Sunday. Supposedly 300 military and extra gendarmes have arrived. If the situation isn't resolved by tomorrow we'll have to make different plans. As of this morning the roads were blocked going into Grand Case near the rumble strips and in French Quarter near the gas station. If we have to, we'll leave the rental car here and take the ferry from Anse Marcel to the airport.
My flight is Saturday and I’m also stuck in Orient Bay. Where are folks getting the most up to date info about the blockages? Google maps shows a way to get thru French Quarter via back streets unless the blockage is south of Rue Chic Chic.
We had some people that were staying at Esmeralda and had to take a boat today to get the Airport. The car is safe but can't pick it up till things cleared up.
We are the couple that Lesley was referring to above. Roads blocked on both sides and Esmeralda arranged for a boat to take 12 of us from Anse Marcel to Nettle Bay, just past the barricades. We were then able to take a taxi through Terre Basse to the airport. Almost missed our flight.
I was able to drive out from orient bay to the Dutch side just now. N7 is blocked just after rumble strips at Grand Case still but I was able to go though town by driving around the airport. There were smoldering piles north of Marigot to drive around carefully and the roundabout was really littered with debris all over, be careful. Debris scattered all thru Marigot. Gendarme checkpoint just south of Marigot way out of the French side at Bellevue, they were looking in all cars for petrol cans etc.
Get out right now, you won’t be able to later after folks wake up and rebuild the barricades.
For what it's worth Orient was quiet yesterday (Friday the 13th) and almost normal on the beach except for fewer people than normal. Cedrick was missing on Club O beach but Randy of Perch lite filled in for him as well as serving sandwiches and drinks. Nice crowd in the village last night but no problem getting a table around 6PM (yes I know that's early).
We did have a helluva time getting to Orient (Club Fantastico) Thursday night. Alain's son warned us about the blockades when we picked up our car rental at AAA so we went through P'Burg and Oyster Pond. Still were blocked in Orleans but a wonderful local named Rudy guided us around it on his motorbike. (He said that he actually likes Americans, guess that's not typical?)
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