Sint Maarten
Represented by Governor Eugene Holiday
Sint Maarten is since October 10 2010, a separate country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Previously, it was up to their resolution to the Netherlands Antilles. Sint Maarten consists of the southern part of the Caribbean island of St. Martin, as well as some very small and uninhabited smaller islands and rocks ( including Pelican Cay, Molly Beday, Cow and Calf, Hen and Chicks). The northern part of the island is occupied by the French overseas territory of Saint -Martin.
Management
The Government of Sint Maarten consists of a eilandsraad ( Island Council ), a bestuurscollege (Administration College) and a gezaghebber ( rulers ), who is appointed by the Dutch Crown.
Population
The native population consists largely of descendants of Dutch settlers and African slaves kidnapped. Meanwhile, 49 % of the population are foreigners in the Dutch part. Most locals are Protestants, especially Methodists, while the French side dominated rather the Roman Catholic faith. There are also small Jewish and Seventh- day Adventist churches.
The majority of the population speaks English as a native language. However, Spanish, Dutch and Papiamento are common.
Cities and settlements
- The capital of Philipsburg with 1,228 inhabitants
- Lower Prince 's Quarter with 8,123 inhabitants
- Dutch Cul de Sac with 7,880 inhabitants
- Koolbaai with 6,046 inhabitants
- Upper Prince 's Quarter with 4,020 inhabitants
- Little Bay (Fort Amsterdam) with 2,176 inhabitants
- Simpson Bay with 736 inhabitants
- Lowlands with 232 inhabitants
Economy
Sint Maarten is an offshore zone. The companies that are registered on Sint Maarten and engaged in any activities in the Dutch part of the island are exempted from taxes. Furthermore, there are no restrictions on ownership and capital income taxes. The VAT rate is five percent.
Currency
Official currency is the Caribbean guilder, may be paid due to the fixed exchange rate is usually even with the U.S. dollar. With the 2010 dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles carried out the end of the currency is decided. For the special municipalities of Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius, the national currency on 1 January 2011 was replaced by the U.S. dollar. End of August 2009 was discussed at a busy conference with experts in Willemstad also for Curaçao and Sint Maarten, dollarization. This solution had necessarily to abolish the Antilles Guilder result. 2012, the conversion was completed by the Caribbean guilder. Instead of banknotes to 25 and 250 guilders banknotes is there to 20 and 200 guilders. In the tourism sector, the euro is accepted often.
Tourism
The Dutch part of the island has a port, can apply to the cruise ships. In season, this is up to ten ships per day. A special feature, which makes the island particularly for U.S. tourists attractive, is the status of free port - no taxes or duty will be charged. Due to this fact developed on the island, especially in commercialized Sint Maarten, a regular tobacco and spirits tourism. However, once have stored 18 clock the last ships, acts, for example Philipsburg deserted.
Also important for the infrastructure is the Princess Juliana Airport. This was renewed in 2006 and received a new terminal among others. The road system is often poor, often leads to traffic jams. This is rare in the French part of the case.
Particularity
The southwest part of the island is quite narrow. There lies directly on the coast and the airport Princess Juliana, which divides the southern of the two land bridges. The special feature is that the landing aircraft ( including wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 747 or the Airbus A340 ) to land because of the proximity of the runway to the beach, just a few meters above the heads of the tourists away. The shared tourist beach is equipped with warning signs. The distance between the landing aircraft and the airport fence is often only a few meters. Tourists can stand directly under the aircraft and photograph them. For the information of onlookers a sign with landing times, airlines, machinery and departure points is updated daily at the restaurant located right on the beach next to the runway.
Attractions
- The boundary monument that commemorates the Treaty of Concordia in 1648 and to the division of the island.
- The History Museum in Philipsburg
- The beach Maho Beach on the runway threshold of the Princess Juliana Airport
- The Loterie Farm Flyzone
Gallery
Surfboard with arrival times
Country Ender Airbus A340 of Air France