TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Protests blocking routes to the French side

Breaking news

There is a lot of chatter about this on another site from people who live on the island and the latest update is that negotiations are not going well so they expect it to continue to be blocked. I should say into the evening.

Fine by me, I am more than happy to spend my visit on the Dutch side.

I must have missed what the PLU is / is planning to do??

What is the PLU and why are residents upset?

I don't really understand it, but I guess it's like zoning laws. But there is also some component of people who have owned land for generations now have to pay the government for it. Found this in the Daily Herald

OK, what I got from this is that residents are protesting 2 main items:
An increase in population density in Grand Case & Marigot due to the building height restrictions being relaxed (now buildings cannot be higher than 3 floors).

Zoning changes that would make certain areas (the Lowlands?) as agricultural zones.


Does anyone else have any input?

PLU is the Plan Local Urbanize. It deals with rezoning areas as urban.

From the updates on that story, with the four cruise ships in port today, there may be some cruise ship passengers who miss their ship!!

I'll have to agree with the protesters. However, it's about impossible to fight "big money" interests.

Can you imagine all those tour buses trying to make u turns when they reach the road block. Hope they knew about this before heading out. Going to be a quiet day at Orient Beach and other french side beaches. Bet SSBB and Mullet are packed with all these displaced cruisers.
Lots of chairs and umbrellas set up in Great Bay today.

Is the road blocked from Philipsburg to Orient Beach for the cruisers?

This was in the article from above:
"visitors to the island might suffer because they will be blocked in on the French side and miss their cruise ships, however, she said that at this particular moment they will leave the Oyster Pond border open in order for taxi drivers to take the tourists they have with them back to the French side. Carty did not say how long they will leave the French Quarter border open but she made clear that the issue affecting St. Martin people is on the front burner and unless the elected officials decide to stop the PLU and go back to the drawing board they will not stop the protest action and the blocking of all entrances to leading to the French side of the island."

The only roads blocked are the 3 main roads into Marigot. The road from Philipsburg to Orient Bay and Grand Case are open.

Bob--Those roads were re-opened then, or the story was wrong, they were never closed?

the latest word I heard on Facebook is that
grand case airport, french quarter, oyster pond are blocked. They are asking all taxi drivers, tour bus operators to move through the oyster pond border and take all visitors they have with them back to the dutch side as the protest action and road blocks are now spreading out. the only exit and entrance that will remain open is oyster pond

One of the ships was supposed to leave at 3, according to the port schedule, and is still there, so I guess the ships may be late leaving today..

edit... One ship is leaving now. I can't imagine that there are a lot of people stuck somewhere, if that ship is leaving..

Ursula from I Love My Island Dog lives n French Quarter..she just posted on FB that french Quarter is blocked..no access to oyster Pond any more

Posted an hour ago that Grand Case blocked now too, French Quarter to come by woman Barbara mentions.

If anyone hears of a way to get to the French side or if protests are listed will you please post? We arrived today and are waiting on the Dutch side to be able to drive to orient beach! Thanks!

souali....we just came back from Orient. beach boys were running down the beach advising folks to head out asap. We are staying in Oyster Pond. Took route back to Orlenas and there was a white van blocking the road right at the intersection for turning onto the coastal route. Must just have been put in place around 2:30 as there were not many cars backed up. I've used detours there in past so knew where to duck into to bypass and pick up the coastal road close to the canal bridge.
However, the road was blocked for sure. For how long, don't know as we boogied right out of there.
Myslef, I suspect the timing was designed to catch as many cruiser busses in the gridlock and force ships to either sail without them or stay in port.

Talked to our unit manager who lives just down the row from us. He is a resident and knows the roads. Was in Grand Case, cannot get to Oyster Pond.

Glad you got through. I'm not going anywhere from my house in Oyster Pond.

from all reports, this is going to last quite awhile

I have always thought the French side more visually pleasing because of the lack of high-rises and "clutter". It looks like the country side of France.

I realize the island depends on tourism but at what cost? For those who remember how Simpson Bay & Maho looked in the 70's I ask is it better now that it looks like another Las Vegas?

Wow, outofthebox, that is tough. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/cry.gif" alt="" /> What an arrival day!!!!

I was wondering why the beach covered by the Perch camera was empty.

As well as the cruisers I just thought about all the planes bringing people who are staying somewhere on the island. WestJet would have just landed at 4 p.m. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Sad.gif" alt="" />

One person who came in today has already posted on this thread. I feel so sorry for them!

Me too!!

Not to mention the people that are leaving to come home and need to catch their flight.

This is our 12th trip to Orient Beach...makes us realize we have taken access to paradise for granted! We are at Sunset Beach Bar waiting....has anyone heard anything?

Great time to run a water taxi.

Sounds like a great idea! Where can we pick one up? Oyster Pond?

Great venture for soualigacapt to get going.

roads still blocked ..negotiations taking place

I don't understand why the Gendarmes aren't arresting these people and moving them on-they must be breaking some laws. It may have been OK in the middle of the day but when tourists start missing ships or planes and locals can't get home to their children etc-this is nuts.

It just shows how determined they are for their cause. Bigger the pressure the better and quicker the negotiation results.

this is not against the law. nor is it nuts. It's unfortunate..but it is very typical in France for people to take to the streets to stand up for their rights.

I'm wondering what happens at airport with the number of planes that are coming in to leave & pick up people. If planes are waiting for their passengers where will they all fit? Will some land elsewhere & wait for room?
Everyone's nightmare there today. Grand case never did get international designation for their airport I dont think. Too bad, some of jets could land there. Bad situation that's for sure.