~ Two borders closed by protestors ~
PHILIPSBURG--The St. Maarten Police Force KPSM said on Thursday night that no order was given to close the borders between the French and Dutch sides of the island. Two border crossings are closed because of the barricades erected by protesting French-side residents and not by law enforcement authorities.
Police said an inaccurate broadcast had been circulating on social media on Thursday evening which stated that the Dutch-side police, together with the French-side police, had given permission to close all borders on the island.
“The Police [Force - Ed.] of St. Maarten make it abundantly clear that at no time did the police close any of the borders or collaborate with the French police to close off any of the borders on the island.
“We are well aware of the situation that is taking place on the French side at this moment,” said police in a press release on Thursday night.
However, police did confirm that the border at French Quarter and at Lowlands had been closed by the action of French-side residents because of the ongoing protest action.
Police said its personnel was currently assisting motorists on the Dutch side, to get to their destinations on the French side through the Bellevue border.
