Philipsburg:--leader of Government Sarah Wescot Williams announced yesterday there needs to be more indebt discussions on the Franco Dutch treaty before it is implemented. The island leader said there seems to be some sort of misconception on the treaty itself as people tend to believe that the treaty deals with visas. She said the implementation of the treaty is about controls on the so-called risk flights. She said a commission has to be set up so that treaty can be studied. Wescot Williams said even though the visa regulations would be implemented the commission would have to determine what countries whose nationals are considered as "high risk."
She stressed that once this is decided by the commission then the work group which will be established will decide which flights are used by these persons.
When the Franco/ Dutch treaty is enforced persons who fall under the category of high risk will be subjected to double controls, since there will be both French and Dutch immigration officials at the airports.
Wescot Williams said that there is no new visa requirement that has been put in place and added that there is an agreement with the officials French Republic with regard to some of the countries that require visa by France and not the Netherlands Antilles. She said there will be some considerations granted and as a result there will be no need for these persons to be subjected to the double controls.
The island leader said there are still four countries that are considered for visas by both sides of the islands and indicated that it is the commission and the work group that is to be determine who will require visas.
