PHILIPSBURG:--- The Government of St. Maarten has formed a committee to address a reported mix-up of deceased bodies that occurred during the Thanksgiving weekend in 2013. On the 29th of November 2013 two elderly females passed away from natural causes while vacationing on St. Maarten. One of the females was of Canadian Nationality and the other was an American Citizen. Both women were approximately the same age (83 and 85 respectively) and both were delivered to the same funeral home. The next of kin requested from the Ministry of Health, Social Development and Labor permission that the bodies be brought over to their respective places of internment namely Canada and the United States. The request was granted in accordance to the legal stipulations outlined in the respective laws of St. Maarten and both were flown to the United States on the same airline with one body needing further transport to Canada after arrival at the US destination. Upon collection of the deceased the next of kin of both deceased persons claimed that this was not the body of their respective relatives and have lodged a complaint with the local law enforcement authorities. The body that was flown to Canada has since been cremated.
The Foreign Relations Department received an official request from the United States Consulate to look into the matter and has communicated to the US Consulate that the matter is being investigated by the Health Inspector considering its seriousness and the potential implications this may have. The Health Inspector will investigate all aspects of the incident and will report to the Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, the Honorable Minister Cornelius De Weever. Close contact will be maintained and information will be continuously exchanged with the respective consulates of both the United States and Canada. The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams is in contact with the representatives of the various entities involved and is being updated as the investigation continues.
A DNA analyses will be carried out in order to verify conclusively the identity of both bodies. As soon as there is more information available it will be made available through the representatives of the respective Governments, the families of the deceased and the respective media outlets.
From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister
