St. Maarten: Reopening to US still on for Aug. 1

Minister of ‘Iburism, Economic Affairs, ‘fransport and Telecommunication (TEAM Ludmila de Weever said during the live vir­tual Council of Ministers press briefing on Wednesday morning that the country’s reopening to the United States (US) is still planned for this Saturday, August 1. However, US flights into Prin­cess Juliana International Air­port (PJIA) will be on a “heavily reduced schedule.”

According to De Weever, Delta Airlines will be flying three times per week, while jetBlue cancelled its flight from Florida and will op­erate a weekly route from John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport in New York City, New York. American Airlines will have a weekly flight from Char­lotte, North Carolina, and five flights per week from Florida.

American Airlines, which had been blocking half the mid­dle seats in economy class since April in the name of social distancing, turned its back on the practice in early July.

De Weever said there will be stricter health protocols for passengers on these flights. However, these have yet to be released.

Reporters questioned Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour VSA Richard Panneflek during the press briefing about these stricter measures, particularly if passengers would be sub­ject to additional testing. Panneflek did not disclose any further details, and only said the stricter controls are to harmonise Dutch-side and French-side travel pro­tocols. However, French-side travel protocols are al­ready similar to the Dutch side’s, requiring authorised travellers (from main­land France, the Schengen area or from the list of safe countries) to present a plane ticket, a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test with results no less than 72 hours prior to travel, and a health declara­tion.

The Prefecture warned earlier this week that it would close the island’s in­ternal border if the Dutch-side government allowed flights from the US to land at PJIA. On Wednesday, French-side authorities an­nounced that the borders will be closed as of noon Friday, July 31. Only per­sons with professional or medical reasons will be able to cross the border.

“Dutch side has not taken a decision to institute bor­der controls,” said Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs on Wednesday.

In preparation for reopen­ing, TEATT’s Inspectorate conducted site checks at 50 restaurants last week, said De Weever, adding that all adhered to established health protocols. She said inspections also took place at hotels and other lodg­ings.

The Daily Herald.