On Monday March 15, the process has begun where by all undocumented Haitian Nationals that failed to comply with the BTA and those who have never went to register with the BTA accord.
The Minister of Justice Magali Jacoba along with the local government of St Maarten has decided that all undocumented Haitian nationals residing on Dutch St Maarten should get a chance to register to avoid deportation when the immigration controls start, reason for this is because of the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti last January 12, 2010 that caused massive damage in the capital of Port au Prince, Haiti.
On Monday March 15, 2010 a total amount of 167 persons was registered where by 98 persons was granted permission to stay till August 2010, 50 were granted permission to stay until December 2010, seven person had to return back today Tuesday March 16, two other persons were denied as they were registered on the French side of the island and 7 other persons were unaccounted for.
On Tuesday March 16, 2010 a total amount of 213 persons was registered where by 131 persons was granted permission to stay till August 2010, 69 persons were granted permission to stay until December 2010, two other persons were denied reason were that they came in after January 12, 2010 and 1 other person were unaccounted for.
The Minister of Justice Magali Jacoba would like to remember all Haitian National living on the Dutch side of St Maarten that Wednesday March 31, 2010 will be the last day to register.
The registration will take place from Monday through Friday from 8 in the morning non stop till 4 in the afternoon at the Conference Center of the Salvation Army on the Union Road #59 in Cole Bay.
The registration is only for the following groups of illegal Haitians who live in St. Maarten:
Those who as per the Brooks Tower Accord must have left St. Maarten already before March 1, 2010. This relates to Haitian nationals who entered the Antilles between January 1st 2006 and January 12th 2010. January 12, 2010 is the day the devastating earthquake took place in Haiti.
Those who applied via "Steering group" and who entered the Netherlands Antilles between January 1st 2006 and January 12th 2010. This is because they are not eligible to receive a permit via the "BTA" as they are not special cases.
Those who entered before January 1st 2006, but who did not register for category 1 or 2 of the "BTA". By not registering, they automatically become illegal equal to category 3 "BTA".
By registering the illegal groups 1 and 2, the right is obtained to continue living in St. Maarten till the 31st of December 2010. Those of category 3 will get the right to stay till August 31, 2010. The registration does not give the illegal any other rights.
All Haitians mentioned above will receive a copy of the registration form to have in their possession at all times. No photograph is on this form, only the signature of the illegal person who registered.
The illegal immigrant must show this form to the Dutch authorities during controls. This form indicates up to which day their stay is allowed on Dutch St. Maarten. Before said date they can always leave St. Maarten of their own will. After said date they will be deported. The Minister want to stress that this documentation is only for the Dutch side of Sint Maarten and does not have any validly on the French St Martin.
Haitians who register for category 1 and 2 of the Brooks Tower do not need to register again.
The registration will not take more than 5 minutes, as long as the illegal immigrant brings his / her passport and a (good quality) copy a copy machine is available at the venue and it will cost only 25 US cents per copy.
It also applies here that if the illegal immigrant supplies information that is not based on the truth or makes use of a false passport, he / she commits a crime and will be deported immediately.
