Saint Martin

Saint Martin is a tropical island in the northeast Caribbean, approximately 150 miles east of Puerto Rico. The 88 km² (38 square-mile) island is divided roughly in half between France and the Netherlands; it is the smallest landmass in the world that is divided between two nations. The southern Dutch half is called Sint Maarten and is part of the Netherlands Antilles; the northern French half is called Saint-Martin and is part of the French overseas department of Guadeloupe. Collectively, the two territories are known as, "St.-Martin/St. Maarten", "St. Martins", or simply, "SXM". (SXM is the IATA identifier for Princess Juliana International Airport, the island's main airport.)

Political status

France and the Netherlands agreed to divide the island on November 11, 1648.

Related Topics:
France - Netherlands - November 11 - 1648

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Sint Maarten is officially an "island territory" part of the Netherlands Antilles, which is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands though not in the European Union. Its currency is the Antillean Guilder (however, the United States dollar is widely accepted). A proposed restructuring of the Netherlands Antilles would see Sint Maarten become an independent component of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in its own right.

Related Topics:
Netherlands Antilles - European Union - Guilder - United States dollar

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Saint-Martin is a French commune part of Guadeloupe, which is an overseas région and overseas département of France and is therefore in the European Union. The official currency in Saint-Martin is the Euro (however, once again, the U.S. dollar is widely accepted). In 2003 the population of the French part voted in favour of secession from Guadeloupe to form a separate overseas collectivity of France; this has yet to be implemented.

Related Topics:
Commune - Guadeloupe - Overseas ''région'' - European Union - Euro - U.S. dollar - Overseas collectivity

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The French commune of Saint-Martin is ruled by a mayor and a municipal council elected by the European citizens living on the French side of the island. As is the case in metropolitan France since the promulgation of the Maastricht Treaty, nationals of any member state of the European Union are allowed to vote at the municipal elections. Nationals from countries not part of the European Union, which represent a large part of the population on the French side of the island, are not allowed to vote in the elections.

Related Topics:
Metropolitan France - Promulgation - Maastricht Treaty - European Union

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On the other hand, the Dutch island territory of Sint Maarten is ruled by an Island Council, an Executive Council, and a Governor appointed by the Dutch Crown.

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