MARIGOT— Acting Lt. Governor Reynold Groeneveldt paid a courtesy visit to Prefet Jacques Simmonet on Wednesday. The two heads of state also used the opportunity to follow up on three pending files which are being worked on jointly. The files are the common border control, the joint policing and cooperation treaty which will go before the council of ministers in the Dutch Kingdom on July 9th and the current situation of the oyster Pond Border.Both sides' representatives have decided to have an ad-hoc committee installed to study each file and to find practical solutions which can be adapted by each side.
Another issue discussed during the orientation visit is the current issue regarding travellers from France to St. Maarten. Recently the Dutch side has adapted the IATA regulations which stipulated that all air travel passengers must travel with a valid passport. According to a press release from the prefecture the prefet Jacques Simmonet indicated to Groeneveldt that while he respects the rights and sovereignty in the decision, he wished this new measure could have been put in place progressively to permit information to be disseminated adequately.
Simmonet it is said made it abundantly clear that France should not be ostracised in this context if it is true that certain countries, such as Canada, are exempted from the passport requirement according to information brought to his attention.
A response to the Préfet's concerns was promised as soon as possible.
