Franco-Dutch Treaty
is not in effect as yet
~ Visa requirement still pending for Guyanese, Jamaicans ~
PHILIPSBURG--The Franco-Dutch Treaty with respect to joint border controls is not yet in effect, as the French side authorities are yet to appoint their members to serve on a joint committee, Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards confirmed Thursday.
This means that contrary to reports reaching The Daily Herald, it is not yet a requirement for persons from Dominica, Guyana, Jamaica and Suriname who wish to travel to St. Maarten to first acquire visas.
Apparently, based on inaccurate reports in another section of the local media some time ago, it was thought in some quarters here and overseas that with effect from August 1 – two days ago – nationals of the four Caribbean countries would have been required to acquire and present visas to enter St. Maarten.
One report from Anguilla said immigration authorities there had prevented at least one Guyanese wishing to travel to St. Maarten by boat on Wednesday from doing so, contending that in keeping with new regulations, Guyanese are now required to have visas to enter St. Maarten (the Dutch side of the island).
In the meantime, according to Richards, he had a meeting three weeks ago with the Sous-Préfet of the French side during which they discussed the implementation of the Franco-Dutch treaty.
“The treaty will be enacted when the French side designates its people in the committee,” Richards said Thursday.
Based on the treaty, joint immigration controls will be instituted at the airports on the island. These controls will be conducted when a risk flight is due at one of the airports.
If a flight is earmarked as a risk flight, persons on that particular flight will be subjected to the controls of the immigration officials of both the Netherlands Antilles and France. The focus of the controls will be to establish that the passengers comply with the entry regulations of both the Netherlands Antilles and France.
With respect to flights that are considered risks, this is established in the treaty in two phases. The first phase is prepared by the Committee. The Committee will prepare a list of the nationalities that require visas to enter St. Maarten.
The second phase is prepared by the Working Group which is installed by the Committee as prescribed in the treaty. The Working Group will prepare a list of flights that are recommended for the joint immigration controls.
Both the Committee and the Working Group will consist of representatives of the parties to the treaty. One representative must represent the judicial authorities.
According to the treaty, a person who must have a visa to enter one side of the island also must have a visa to enter the other side.
Richards said that in this regard, the implementation of visas for persons from Jamaica and Guyana was still pending.
“Persons from Jamaica and Guyana travelling to the Dutch side do not need visas, but if they are going to the French side they do need them, because that’s a requirement according to the French laws,” he said.
