St. Barth President Bruno Magras has always appreciated American visitors to St. Barth. Many are concerned about current and future visits and so I asked Pres. Magras a few questions about this. Many answers are not known now, but at least it's good to know what is not known - you're not missing out on some facts. Below are my questions and his responses - in blue. I hope to provide updates as I learn of them.
And a photo of Bruno and Marius from the Le Select 60th.
Information request for English Speaking Friends of St. Barth Regarding Restrictions
There is confusion if St. Barth must follow all the rules set in place for France. Are provisions being made to the rules that consider the special situation of St. Barth? If so, does the Collectivite have the authority to adjust on its’ own? Can authorities on French St. Martin set restrictions for St. Barth without consulting with the Collectivite?
1° Yes, on the matter of health, Saint-Barths must follow the rules set in place by the French Government. It is the same situation in all the other French overseas territories with the exception of French Polynésia and New Caledonia. The French Government is represented by the Prefet of Guadeloupe and the Préfete délégué of Saint-Barths and Saint-Martin. They have full authority to put in application those rules.
It seems that airlines from the USA will not be providing any information regarding the status of the SXM airport. The SXM airport is closed to non-residents. Are you able to anticipate how much advance notice about status changes will be provided to airlines that use this airport? If St. Barth remains free of new virus cases, will a request be made to allow travelers from SBH to connect to flights from SXM?
The international airport of Juliana is located on a foreign territory.
The territorial Council of Saint-Barth does not have any authority on the decisions of a foreign country. We do not know when the SXM airport will be reopen to traffic and in which conditions.
Of course we are working to have our Island free of the virus. If we succeed a request to reopen the Island will be made to the French Government. Having said that, we do not know what will be the answers of the foreign neighbors like Dutch Sint-Maarten, Antigua, St-Kitts and Puerto Rico.
The current restrictions are in place until 15 April. Are you able to anticipate how many days before the 15th the Collectivite will receive notice of what to expect after the 15th? Or will the next notice come out on the 15th?
The date to end the quarantine is a decision to the French Government. The 15 of April is the actual date. It might be postponed.. We have no idea of what will be the future.
Is it possible that restrictions will be loosened for people already on the island if the island remains closed to new arrivals? If so, is there a guess on when some restrictions can be adjusted? No idea at all.
Which authority will decide when US travelers can visit St. Barth?
As soon as the Island is virus free and reopen to international traffic.
It’s too early to give a date.
For people in the USA that plan to visit St. Barth later this year there is no website in English to visit to get current accurate information about travelling here. Can you recommend where to get this type of information? The problem is that airlines in the USA do not plan on providing this information.
That’s normal because we don’t ourselves when the situation will get back to normal. Of Course we all wish that it will be the soonest as possible.
And a photo of Bruno and Marius from the Le Select 60th.
Information request for English Speaking Friends of St. Barth Regarding Restrictions
There is confusion if St. Barth must follow all the rules set in place for France. Are provisions being made to the rules that consider the special situation of St. Barth? If so, does the Collectivite have the authority to adjust on its’ own? Can authorities on French St. Martin set restrictions for St. Barth without consulting with the Collectivite?
1° Yes, on the matter of health, Saint-Barths must follow the rules set in place by the French Government. It is the same situation in all the other French overseas territories with the exception of French Polynésia and New Caledonia. The French Government is represented by the Prefet of Guadeloupe and the Préfete délégué of Saint-Barths and Saint-Martin. They have full authority to put in application those rules.
It seems that airlines from the USA will not be providing any information regarding the status of the SXM airport. The SXM airport is closed to non-residents. Are you able to anticipate how much advance notice about status changes will be provided to airlines that use this airport? If St. Barth remains free of new virus cases, will a request be made to allow travelers from SBH to connect to flights from SXM?
The international airport of Juliana is located on a foreign territory.
The territorial Council of Saint-Barth does not have any authority on the decisions of a foreign country. We do not know when the SXM airport will be reopen to traffic and in which conditions.
Of course we are working to have our Island free of the virus. If we succeed a request to reopen the Island will be made to the French Government. Having said that, we do not know what will be the answers of the foreign neighbors like Dutch Sint-Maarten, Antigua, St-Kitts and Puerto Rico.
The current restrictions are in place until 15 April. Are you able to anticipate how many days before the 15th the Collectivite will receive notice of what to expect after the 15th? Or will the next notice come out on the 15th?
The date to end the quarantine is a decision to the French Government. The 15 of April is the actual date. It might be postponed.. We have no idea of what will be the future.
Is it possible that restrictions will be loosened for people already on the island if the island remains closed to new arrivals? If so, is there a guess on when some restrictions can be adjusted? No idea at all.
Which authority will decide when US travelers can visit St. Barth?
As soon as the Island is virus free and reopen to international traffic.
It’s too early to give a date.
For people in the USA that plan to visit St. Barth later this year there is no website in English to visit to get current accurate information about travelling here. Can you recommend where to get this type of information? The problem is that airlines in the USA do not plan on providing this information.
That’s normal because we don’t ourselves when the situation will get back to normal. Of Course we all wish that it will be the soonest as possible.