SMN News learnt that the medical professionals operating at the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital are outraged at the fact that that the Prefet stopped Jet Budget from transporting patients that need emergency medical care outside of St. Maarten before consulting with them or the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital.
One medical personnel who spoke to SMN News on the condition of anonymity said that the French side medivac lost their contract with the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital when the institution learned that the air ambulance was no longer fit for transporting patients overseas. The medical professional said that the company TAI even lost a court case they initiated against Louis Constant Fleming Hospital. Furthermore, Jet Budget managed to obtain the contract since they have a better aircraft and cheaper rates.
SMN News further learnt that the Prefet said it is not possible for a Dutch side medivac company (Jet Budget) to transport patients from the French side when the French side has a registered and operational company.
SMN News also learnt that the French side ambulance association intervened in the ongoing saga and has already taken steps to prevent Jet Budget from landing in Guadeloupe or Martinique.
Another medical professional said that Jet Budget is a registered aircraft in France and it can travel to Holland at any time and they cannot understand why the Prefet would take a decision to stop the company from operating on the French side. "Can you imagine TAI places sick people on the floor of the aircraft to transport them overseas while Jet Budget is fully equipped with the necessary stretchers. Stopping patients from getting quality service is not in the best interest of the patients."
An ambulance personnel who is also caught up in the ongoing saga said that the French and Dutch side constantly speak of cooperation but in fact there is none. Cooperation between the two sides is just a farce and the politicians and state representatives on both sides need to inform the people of the true status of the two sides.
One source said that the Prefecture had to call in the Gendarmes on Wednesday when the meeting got of hand but one television media house managed to tape the commotion before the gendarmes reached the scene.
