PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – The travel restrictions announced in Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs’s second National Address on March 14th, 2020 are hereby further clarified.
On March 17th, only incoming visitors from the USA, Canada, Europe, UK and Ireland are restricted to enter the country of St. Maarten. This does not apply to St. Maarten/St. Martin residents, as well as residents and nationals of the surrounding islands whom utilize Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) as a transit point. Travelers from around the Caribbean region are not restricted unless they have travelled to the listed areas in the past 21 days. The current travel restrictions apply for two weeks starting on Tuesday, March 17th. Commercial and private/chartered airlines will be allowed to land and take-off after the March 16th deadline date to facilitate the following:
– Visitors who are currently on the island, or neighboring islands, who are scheduled to travel out via PJIA in the coming weeks to return to their home country.
– Returning residents of St. Maarten/St. Martin and the surrounding islands, who usually transit through PJIA, invited specialists and other technical assistants, to enter the country with valid travel documents.
Hotels and other types of accommodations on St. Maarten/St. Martin and the surrounding islands, for which St. Maarten serves as a hub function, are advised to inform their guests accordingly. Residents of the island as well as surrounding islands are advised to take note as well. Airlines, and handlers will be informed via PJIA and Port St. Maarten operations to make the necessary arrangements.
Prime Minister Jacobs reiterated, “The restrictions do not apply to St. Maarten/St. Martin residents, nor residents of neighboring islands who transit through St. Maarten. All returning and transiting residents are reminded to continue to monitor themselves upon return and to notify their doctor should they start to show symptoms.”
Prime Minister Jacobs hereby reminds the general public that all measures are being undertaken in order to protect our vulnerable community as the virus spreads in the wider world.
