PHILIPSBURG – Prime Minister William Marlin in his capacity also as Member of Parliament (MP) said on Sunday afternoon, November 6, that he will be requesting that Chairman of Parliament MP Claret Connor convene an urgent meeting of Parliament to discuss the ongoing problems at Captain Oliver’s Marina.
Prime Minister Marlin said that up to Sunday evening no response was received from the Préfet Deleguee of St. Barths and St. Martin. The Prime Minister said that he will be calling on the President of the Collectivité Aline Hanson to ensure that French authorities adhere to agreements made at the Quadripartite where the border at Oyster Pond is concerned.
Prime Minister Marlin stated that it had been agreed upon that the status quo would be maintained until parties came to an agreement. All the water area at Oyster Pond has always been part of the Dutch side. Captain Oliver’s has a business license from the Dutch side, has several parcels of water rights from the Dutch side and pays taxes to the Dutch side.
Prime Minister Marlin is calling on a peaceful resolution to the issue in order to maintain the peaceful relationship between the people of St. Martin and St. Maarten. Marlin hopes that Chairman of Parliament Connor would convene the meeting as soon as possible so that Members of Parliament would be informed of the situation at the Oyster Bay Marina and the growing unrest that the actions of the French authorities is causing.
