- EUSTATIUS--Effective Friday, July 31, the public entity St. Eustatius has introduced an events policy which is to be used in addition to the existing regulation of events.
The reason for this is that some events are being held without the necessary permits and/or without adhering to the guidelines and conditions given with the permit, thus posing a potential safety risk for the general public.
Business establishments in possession of an operational and business licence issued by the public entity are obligated to strictly adhere to their existing licence.
According to the public entity, there has been a lack of compliance and strict enforcement regarding the use of the mentioned permits. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic it has become necessary for the public entity to strictly enforce the stipulations mentioned in the permits to ensure the safety and well-being of Statia’s inhabitants.
“During the course of this week, a meeting will be held with establishments to go over the events policy in detail and to explain under which conditions (number of patrons, safety and hygiene measures) permission will be granted to host events,” said Deputy Government Commissioner Alida Francis.
The advice of the Police, Fire Brigade and Public Health Department GGD is required before a permit is granted. Each request is assessed on three main points: public order and safety, public health and fire-safety measures.
This year, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, many requests for permits for large events have been filed. The public entity said it has been “cautious” in granting these types of permits “due to the reality of the times in which we are living, and also based on the capacity of emergency support services to handle such events.”
Establishments with a coffeehouse and/or restaurant permit are not allowed to host events. To host an event, the operator of the establishment should approach the Governor’s Cabinet to apply separately for an event permit.
Establishments or organisations advertising an event prior to obtaining the required permit do so at their own risk, as it is not an obligation of the government to issue the permit, the public entity cautioned.
Also, businesses should have their permits visible on the outside of the main entrance of the facility so that they are clearly visible to the general public.
“Strictly adhering to the permit becomes even more necessary due to COVID-19,” the public entity said.
