OYSTER POND--There are still occurrences of harassment of Dutch side-registered businesses in Oyster Pond by French authorities, said Prime Minister William Marlin at the Council of Ministers Press Briefing on Wednesday.
Marlin said despite an agreement with the French Government, based in France, for the border situation to remain status quo until a definite demarcation can be worked out, businesses operating in the vicinity of the disputed frontier under Dutch side-issued licences are being dragged to French courts.
He cited that he learned that one business received a summons this week from French authorities, while Captain Oliver’s Restaurant and Marina is still fighting an uphill battle with the same authorities. The latter has reached out to both the local and Dutch Government in The Hague for support and intervention.
The strife, according to Marlin, is not one caused or fuelled by the local French side Government, but by the French administration across the Atlantic Ocean.
The still pending definite demarcation of the area was raised with outgoing Dutch Kingdom Affairs Minister Ronald Plasterk by Marlin. Plasterk was on St. Maarten Tuesday for his farewell tour.
