PHILIPSBURG--Today is the last day for Brooks Tower Accord (BTA) applicants to pay for and collect their decrees.The Immigration Department in Philipsburg Police Station and the Federal Receiver's Office will remain open until 6:00pm today, Tuesday to facilitate applicants.
Justice Minister Magali Jacoba urged BTA applicants who still have to collect their decrees so that they are documented as St. Maarten residents to make use of the extended opening hours today.
The Immigration Department will issue the last invoices to BTA applicants until 5:00pm to give applicants one hour to go to the Federal Receiver's Office to pay and return to the police station to collect the decree.
The minister reminds all applicants that the Federal Receiver's Office does not accept US $100 bills. Applicants are urged to have these bills changed at the local banks so they are not hampered by trying to pay for their decrees with these bills.
The Federal Receiver's Office is located a short distance from the police station on E. Camille Richardson Street (across from ECC).
Jacoba has organised for the Federal Receiver's Office to remain open for the extra hours so applicants have the opportunity to get their status on the island regulated. She thanked the office staff for their cooperation to ensure everyone gets a fair chance to pay for their documents.
The minister also thanked the staff of the Immigration Department in the Police Station for their cooperation today and for the past months of the BTA process.
Jacoba is on St. Maarten to sign the last decrees of the BTA process and for the opening of the new Immigration and Naturalisation Building on A.Th. Illidge Road. That office is closed this afternoon for the ceremony.
She will also travel to Saba and St. Eustatius this week with the recently appointed Chief Police Commissioner for the Windward Islands Peter de Witte and next new Chief Police for Bonaire (by July 1st) Jan Rooijakker who will become the new head of the BES (Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba) police force after 10-10-10.
