Pantophlet wants publication
of requirements for permits
PHILIPSBURG--National Alliance Councilman George Pantophlet is requesting that proper information be provided to persons requesting employment and residence permits. He is asking government to publicise these requirements, as this will prevent unnecessary cost, embarrassment and time.
The councilman said he has been receiving numerous phone calls lately from persons who had been refused entry into St. Maarten although they had landing permits issued by the Immigration Department.
The landing permit, which is given to the employer, should only be issued when the request for an employment permit is granted by the Executive Council, after which the residence permit is given by the Lt. Governor, Pantophlet said.
He said the problem persons with landing permits were confronting had to do with the countries from which they originates, such as Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Colombia and India. “Coming from these countries one would require a visa in order to come to St. Maarten, be it on a vacation or to work after the request for employment permit submitted by the employer is approved.”
But at present these persons, on their arrival at the airport, are being refused entry although they have entry permits in their hands, according to Pantophlet. “I was told it has to do with the laws of the land,” he said.
He said a visa was the competence of the Kingdom Government and the landing permit was the competence of the Central Government. “The application for a visa in some cases can take months.”
Pantophlet suggested that the employer be informed that prior to the person coming to the island, the necessary visa must be obtained at the Dutch Embassy in his or her country or wherever that Embassy might be located. “The reality is that in the past, once one had a landing permit he or she was allowed to come in on that document,” Pantophlet said.
