Clarity sought by independent Member of Parliament (MP) Leona Marlin-Romeo regarding travel to the United States (see Tuesday edition) is provided in today’s report from the American Consulate in Curaçao. The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) remains in
effect for Dutch citizens, who still have to apply first electronically through the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA).
The only thing that has changed since April 1 is that an e-passport is required to use the VWP. Luckily, that’s the case for passports issued by the Kingdom of the Netherlands also locally.
The opposition member herself had suggested that a text to the contrary on the website of US Homeland Security was probably an error. It may have caused some confusion, but the consulate on behalf of the State Department hopefully put an end to that.
Another, related issue is that, based on a recent court rulings regarding the Netherlands-American Friendship Treaty, US citizens now can stay in St. Maarten for six months just like European Dutchmen. If they find a job or otherwise prove sufficient income and adequate housing, Americans actually may become legal residents.
When the question was raised what this could mean for the access of people from the island to the US, some said the treaty is not reciprocal. However, that seems a bit too easy, as these kinds of bilateral accords are rarely completely one-sided and the full text of the document that was published on this newspaper’s website not too long ago gives no such indication of such either.
Again, it might prove worthwhile to do some probing as to the value placed on this historic agreement in Washington D.C., for starters by reminding them of its sheer existence. If necessary, even the possibility of a lawsuit in a US court to get some kind of ruling on the issue is not to be discarded.
