MARIGOT, Saint Martin – A group of concerned citizens on the northern side of the island held a peaceful march at the weekend. The event which took place Saturday morning and started at the Roundabout in Bellevue, Marigot, attracted the participation of well over a hundred persons.
Following a peaceful gathering in the morning at around 8:30, the protestors, accompanied by the sound of loud music, preceded to walk to the check point setup by the State in Bellevue, close to the border monument, where they met with a hand full of persons from the southern side. At the location several persons bitterly voiced their dissatisfaction with the border closure and requested that it be lifted.
The purpose of the event was to send a clear message to Madame La Prefet Sylvie Feucher that they, the participants, disagree with the controls being carried out on the border by Gendarmes. The border control which went into effect as per Friday, July 31st, was initiated by the Prefet following the reopening of the Princess Juliana International Airport to travelers from America. The United States remain one of the global Covid 19 hot spots.
However, marchers on Saturday morning stated that the border closure should be discontinued and that other measures be looked at, including the possibility of implementing a curfew at a certain time of day.
They were also hoping to have been able to convey that message to the Prefet on Saturday morning, but, they were unable to do so, as the protesters were informed that the Prefet was out of the country.
