Background Notes - St. Maarten
Background:
Definition Field Listing
Although sighted by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1493 and claimed for Spain, it was the Dutch who occupied the island in 1631 and set about exploiting its salt deposits. The Spanish retook the island in 1633, but continued to be harassed by the Dutch. The Spanish finally relinquished St. Martin to the French and Dutch, who divided it amongst themselves in 1648. The cultivation of sugar cane introduced slavery to the island in the late 18th century; the practice was not abolished until 1848. The island became a free port in 1939; the tourism industry was dramatically expanded during the 1970s and 1980s. In 2003, the populace of St. Martin voted to secede from Guadeloupe and in 2007, the northern portion of the island became a French overseas collectivity.
Geography Saint Martin Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
island 300 km southeast of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
18 05 N, 63 57 W
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 54.4 sq km
land: 54.4 sq km
water: NEGL
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
more than one-third the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
total: 15 km
border countries: Netherlands Antilles (Sint Maarten) 15 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
58.9 km (for entire island)
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
temperature averages 80-85 degrees all year long; low humidity, gentle trade winds, brief, intense rain showers; July-Novemeber is the hurricane season
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Caribbean Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pic du Paradis 424 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
salt
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
fresh water supply is dependent on desalinization of sea water
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
the island of Saint Martin is the smallest landmass in the World shared by two independent states, the French territory of Saint Martin and the Dutch territory of Sint Maarten
People Saint Martin Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
33,102 (October 2004 census)
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
creole (mulatto), black, Guadeloupe Mestizo (French-East Asia), white, East Indian
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witness, Protestant, Hindu
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
French (official language), English, Dutch, French Patois, Spanish, Papiamento (dialect of Netherlands Antilles)
Government Saint Martin Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: Overseas Collectivity of Saint Martin
conventional short form: Saint Martin
local long form: Collectivity d'outre mer de Saint-Martin
local short form: Saint-Martin
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
name: Marigot
geographical coordinates: 18 04 N, 63 05 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight savings: +1 hour
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
none (overseas collectivity of France)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789); note - local holiday is Schoalcher Day (Slavery Abolition Day) 12 July (1848)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age, universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007), represented by Prefect Dominique LACROIX (since 21 March 2007)
head of government: President of the Territorial Council Louis-Constant FLEMING (since 16 July 2007)
cabinet: Executive Council; note - there is also an advisory economic, social, and cultural council
election: French president elected by popular vote to a five-year term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the Territorial Council is elected by the members of the Council for a five-year term
election results: Louis-Constant FLEMING unanimously elected president by the Territorial Council on 16 July 2007
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
unicameral Territorial Council (23 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 1 and 8 July 2007 (next to be held July 2012)
election results: percent of seats by party - UPP 49%, RRR 42.2%, Reussir Saint-Martin 8.9%; seats by party - UPP 16, RRR 6, Reussir Saint-Martin 1
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Union Pour le Progres or UPP [Louis Constant FLEMING]; Rassemblement Responsabilite Reussite or RRR [Alain RICHARDSON]; Reussir Saint-Martin [Jean-Luc HAMLET]
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
none (overseas collectivity of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
none (overseas collectivity of France)
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
the flag of France is used
Economy Saint Martin Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
The economy of Saint Martin centers around tourism with 85% of the labor force engaged in this sector. Over one million visitors come to the island each year with most arriving through the Princess Juliana International Airport in Sint Maarten. No significant agriculture and limited local fishing means that almost all food must be imported. Energy resources and manufactured goods are also imported, primarily from Mexico and the United States. Saint Martin is reported to have the highest per capita income in the Caribbean.
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 1%
industry: 15%
services: 84%
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
85% directly or indirectly employed in tourist industry
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
tourism, light industry and manufacturing, heavy industry
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
crude petroleum, food, manufactured items
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
US, Mexico (2006)
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
euro (EUR); note - US dollar (USD) widely used
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
euros per US dollar - 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002)
Communications Saint Martin Top of Page
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: fully integrated access
domestic: direct dial capability with both fixed and wireless systems
international: country code - 590; undersea fiber-optic cable provides voice and data connectivity to Puerto Rico and Gudaloupe
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
FM 3 (2007)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.mf; note - .gp, the ccTLD for Guadeloupe, and .fr, the ccTLD for France, might also be encountered
Transportation Saint Martin Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
Transportation - note:
Definition Field Listing
nearest airport for international flights is Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) located in Sint Maarten
Military Saint Martin Top of Page
Military - note:
Definition Field Listing
defense is the responsibility of France
Votes:33
Comments: 0