TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin road block

If you don't respect another sovereign nation's way of doing things, perhaps you should not go?
Indeed.
irina <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

Irina,

Why do I think everyone's getting all worked up over something most of us would not even have known about if not for the internet posting here, though posting it was a good thing for most people to read about it, and that chances are very good it will be over by this evening or tomorrow night at the latest?

Do you remember any lasting longer than that, Irina? I do feel sorry for those who were actually inconvenienced - like the people who live there and actually HAVE to get out, but they've always made allowances for fire and medical emergency responders and the like so it really isn't a safety thing as far as I know.

Its the way things are often done there - nothing new, and as far as I can tell, nothing illegal by French side island law. Inconvenient? Yes! And particularly so to visitors who don't get it, but it is what it is. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

I agree Irina, well said. Of course it affects the tourists. Disrupting the government's cash cow is sometimes the only way to get them to listen. To those who are upset by this action should thank their stars it isn't an uprising, a military coup with death & destruction as in some countries. Then you'd be worried more about your lives than whether or not you can get to a beach!

At 6:00 AM Soualiga Capt. took a drive towards Grand Case from Oyster Pond to check out the sea conditions. He got caught in a roadblock in French Quarter entering Orient so he turned back.

He called the local radio station & other charter company owners to let them know what was going on & he decided to post on TTOL to warn anyone thinking of traveling from Oyster Pond to Orient today. We also canceled our charters today due to choppy sea conditions.

Sure, it's unfortunate for those vacationing, doing business, we all do the best we can, deal with it, that's life. You can complain but you will not change anything.

Vive la France! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

On the island now, thank goodness I pulled this up this morning before the six of us left for the French side. Went to mullet instead, never have I seen it so busy...Rosie not doubt did very well today. Great sun and occasional big waves. Cancelled all of our French side plans for our last three days. Time is too short to deal with this

Heard at the Perch that protest was to end at 4:00pm.

We just tried to get through at 4:30 and still blocked. There was a dirt road near Galion this am that some of the workers at Orient could get through but the protestors blocked with boulders.

Irina, am I wrong to think that when I book a trip to a tourist destination, that I should be able to make it to the condo I'm paying thousands of dollars for? Am I wrong to be upset about the possibility of my family and I, including my 2 year old daughter, not having a place to stay because these restaurant owners have decided to block a public road? Maybe if you were faced with this scenario, you may not be so supportive of their actions.

If the protest is still going on when you arrive be careful as to what kind of issues your talking about. You might be the one that ends up behind bars. Remember, this is not the United states.

It's not just about the restaurants on Orient Beach. It's also about the Govt plan to tear down the Tropical Wave Restaurant on Galion and about preventing the use of lounges on Grand Case Beach. If the people don't do something, then tourism in St Martin will suffer. The protests are not dangerous and usually end before dark. It's the French way. I'm sorry you are inconvenienced, but it's better to stay calm since there is absolutely nothing we can do about it. The people in St Martin know this is usually the only way to get the Govt officials to listen. If we love this Island, we should be supportive. It's not an illegal protest.

Does anyone know where and how we can find out when it is open? We need to get out of here in the morning and we have friends who need to get to the airport tomorrow as well.

Oh, Island Lover, it's not a matter of being supportive of these actions but more of understanding that any time you travel there can be and often are things that go wrong and this is but one of them. It's all part of the travel experience. Look how many got caught up and stranded in France last year when Air France went on strike.

And while no one can say it with absolute certainty. THERE IS EVERY CHANCE THIS ACTION WILL BE LONG DONE BEFORE YOU ARRIVE WITH YOUR FAMILY. and you're worrying needlessly. Why not wait until tomorrow and if there's still an action going on, you might want to check with your trip insurance carrier and see how they handle trip interruptions.

It is not the protesters that blocked the road it was the police doing what they are told by a corrupt & ignorant
collective. Funny the top 2 officials are off the island today.
I feel sorry for the venders & business's on O beach but
the collective is behind this & needs to take the blame.
Will they man up, hell no.
The past 2 weeks business is way down at Orient & I would
estimate 50% but the venders are trying.
Lots of people on the beach, before todays screw up, are
talking about not returning next year & I am talking people that come year after year.
When government gets involved it always turns to s--t
By the way collective wasn't the cost 3.5 million to revamp
the buildings & beach.If this is true there is a hell of
a lot of kick back in that price tag.

Today's article in the Herald.

https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/55...-up-for-protest

It's the people blocking the roads, not the Police and not the Collectivitie. The Police and Guandarme are close by to be sure it all stays peaceful.

Very interesting situation. We arrived today and en route to our lodging on Orient Beach we were blocked at the roundabout near Simply Market. Made the decision to park at Mont Vernon and walk to Club O with our valuables in backpacks. We're about to hike back down (local time 5:40) to retrieve our car and suitcases and MAYBE be able to drive back. Not sure what plan B will be. We'll post an update later. Hope the two parties can work this out but understand that it is difficult.

Some tourist were escorted through the road block to catch their flight earlier today.

Are you here on the island? I know what I saw & what people
are saying.
The owners & workers do not want it not to be peaceful.
It is the collective that is causing the problem
You are about informed as a junkyard dog.

Enough of the personal attacks!

Yes, I live here and am more informed than you think. Try to be a little nicer in your comments. This is supposed to be a supportive, helpful and informative forum, not a place to call people names.

I ran into the road block this morning around 10:00am. I am staying at Princess Heights but like the beaches up in Orient Bay. I went back to get some lunch at Simpson Bay and wanted to head to Mullet Bay beach. I decided to head up to Marigot then over to Orient. Bad idea.

The police had the road blocked off at the rotary by Ansel Beach and had to go al the way around again. it seems the road block basically forced traffic along the western coast - the roadways were incredibly incredibly congested. Basically the problem with the road block was just not traffic in and out of Orient Bay area.

This site is great! I just found it with Google Search for "Road Block" and "Orient Bay" or something. nice find.

This thread is a carbon copy of the one that started when the last protest/road blockage happened. The only difference is that the island folk that explained the ins - and - outs of St. Martin demonstrations are no longer with us because of the hostile reaction to their comments.

I said enough on the personal attacks, what is is that everybody does not understand???????????

This thread is done!