St Maarten Overview Country Overview St Maarten, one of three Windward Islands in the Netherlands Antilles, is geographically part of the Leeward Group of the Lesser Antilles. It is not strictly an island – it occupies just one third of an island otherwise under French control. St Maarten occupies the southern sector, an area of wooded mountains rising from white sandy beaches. The most prominent physical feature in St Maarten is Mount Flagstaff, an extinct volcano, but the most important for visitors is the excellent beach that follows the south and west coasts. Beach activities and shopping at duty-free centres satisfy most tourists. Philipsburg, the capital and the only town of any size, is situated on a sand bar that separates Great Salt Pond, an étang or salt marsh, from the ocean. The entire town consists of two streets, Voorstraat (Front Street) and Achterstraat (Back Street). The shingled churches are worth seeing as are the ruins of several plantation mansions set in woodland outside the town. St Maarten’s cuisine is as varied as its history, combining Dutch, French, English and Creole influences. Seafood is a speciality. General Information Area: 34 sq km (16 sq miles). Population: 36,231 (1996). Population Density: 1065.6 per sq km. Capital: Philipsburg. GEOGRAPHY: Politically, St Maarten is one of three Windward Islands in the Netherlands Antilles, although geographically it is part of the Leeward Group of the Lesser Antilles, and not strictly an island – it occupies just one third of an island otherwise under French control (the French sector is called St Martin), lying 8km (5 miles) south of Anguilla, 232km (144 miles) east of Puerto Rico and 56km (35 miles) due north of St Eustatius. St Maarten is the southern sector, an area of wooded mountains rising from white sandy beaches. To the west, the mountains give way to lagoons and salt flats. Note: For information on the French sector (St Martin), see the Guadeloupe section. Government: Part of the Netherlands Antilles; dependency of the Netherlands since 1630. Head of State: Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, represented locally by Governor Jaime M Saleh. Head of Government: Prime Minister Miguel Arcangel Pourier since 1999. The Netherlands Antilles consist of Curaçao, Bonaire, St Maarten, St Eustatius and Saba. The capital of the island group is Willemstad, Curaçao. Language: Dutch is the official language. Papiamento (a mixture of Portuguese, African, Spanish, Dutch and English) is the commonly used lingua franca. English and Spanish are also widely spoken. Religion: Protestant, with Roman Catholic and Jewish minorities. Time: GMT - 4. Electricity: 110/220 volts AC, 60Hz. Communications:   Telephone Fully automatic system with good IDD. Country code: 599. Outgoing international code: 00. Calls made through the operator are more expensive and include a 15 per cent tax. Mobile telephone TDMA digital network operated by Telcell (e-mail: telcell@telem.an). Compatible with most US handsets but not with GSM handsets. Phone hire is available at Telcell’s customer care centre in Philipsburg. Roaming exists (member of the Pan American Roaming Corporation). East Caribbean Cellular (website: www.eastcaribbeancellular.com) operates digital and analog networks, system B. Networks cover St Maarten, St Martin, St Barthelemy, Saba and the surrounding waters. Most US handsets can be used, and can be activated with a temporary number before or after arrival on the island. Visitors should register online or dial 0 when in an ECC coverage area. Handsets can be hired from ECC in Philipsburg. Fax Some hotels provide facilities. Internet ISPs include TelNet (website: www.sintmaarten.net). Telegram Services operated by TELEM and ANTELCOM. Post Airmail to Western Europe takes four to six days, surface mail takes four to six weeks. Press Four English-language dailies, The Daily Herald, The Chronicle, St Maarten Guardian and Today, are published on St Maarten. Most other newspapers in the Netherlands Antilles are published in Dutch or Papiamento. BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change. BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice): MHz 15.19 12.10 6.195 5.975 Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov): MHz 13.79 9.455 6.130 5.995 Passport/Visa   Passport Required? Visa Required? Return Ticket Required? British Yes 4 Yes Australian Yes 5 Yes Canadian 3 5 Yes USA 2 4 Yes OtherEU 1 4 Yes Japanese Yes 5 Yes PASSPORTS: Passport valid for at least three months after intended return to home country required by all except the following: (a) 1. nationals of Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg and The Netherlands holding national identity cards; (b) 2. nationals of the USA holding voters’ registration cards or birth certificate, and alien residents of the USA with an Alien Registration Card; nationals of the USA born outside the USA with naturalisation certificates of American citizenship; (c) 3. nationals of Canada with birth certificates or proof of citizenship or with Certificate of Naturalization or with Certificate of Proof of Canadian Citizenship; alien residents of Canada still holding their national passport with either Canadian Immigration of Identification Certificates (CIIC) or Canadian Certificate of Identity. Note: Although not officially required, nationals of (a)-(c) are advised to carry their passport as an additional form of identification. VISAS: Required by all except the following: (a) 4. nationals of Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, the UK and the USA for visits of up to 90 days (stay can be extended locally by the same period); nationals of The Netherlands (including Aruba) for an unlimited stay; (b) nationals of Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Hungary, Israel, Jamaica, Korea (Rep), Malawi, Mauritius, Niger, The Philippines, Poland, San Marino, Slovakia, Spain, Swaziland and Togo for visits of up to 90 days (stay can be extended locally by the same period); (c) 5. nationals of countries mentioned in the chart above and most other countries for a stay of 14 days (stay can be extended locally by the same period). Note: Nationals of the following countries must apply for a visa before entering the country even for touristic purposes: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China (PR), CIS, Croatia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Latvia, Libya, Lithuania, Romania and Vietnam. Types of visa and cost: Single-entry visas: £16 (for one month); £19 (for three months). Multiple-entry visas: £22 (for three months). Transit: £6 (for one to five days). Validity: Up to three months from date of issue. Application to: Nearest Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Further information about visa requirements may be obtained from the Royal Netherlands Embassies which formally represent the Netherlands Antilles. For addresses, see The Netherlands section. Application requirements: (a) Passport valid for a minimum of three months after intended return to home country. (b) One fully completed application form. (c) One passport-size photo per person endorsed on passport, with daytime phone number and address written clearly on the back. (d) Fee; payable by postal order (to Royal Netherlands Embassy) or cash. Cheques are not accepted. (e) Return or onward ticket. (f) Evidence of sufficient funds covering cost of intended stay, amounting to a minimum of £30 (cash not accepted). Note: Some nationals may be required to show proof of funds amounting to more than the above. Please check with the nearest Consulate or Embassy before travelling to St Maarten. Working days required: Applications should be lodged at least three weeks prior to departure. Temporary residence: Enquire at the office of the Lieutenant Governor of the Island Territory of St Maarten, Philipsburg, St Maarten. The Dutch government recently allowed Dutch Europeans to reside in the Netherlands Antilles without having to apply for a residence permit. Money Currency: Netherlands Antilles Guilder or Florin (NAG) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of NAG250, 100, 50, 25, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of NAG5 and 1, and 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 cents. There are also a large number of commemorative coins which are legal tender. US Dollars are widely accepted, and prices are usually quoted in both Dollars and Guilders. Note: The NAG is linked to the US Dollar. Currency exchange: All major currencies can be exchanged at banks on the island. Credit & debit cards: All major credit cards are widely accepted. Travellers cheques: Widely accepted. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars. Currency restrictions: There are no restrictions on the import and export of local or foreign currency. The import of Dutch or Surinam silver coins is prohibited. Exchange rate indicators The following figures are included as a guide to the movement of the Netherlands Antilles Guilder against Sterling and the US Dollar: Date May ’02 Aug ’02 Nov ’02 Feb ’03 £1.00= 2.59 2.71 2.81 2.83 $1.00= 1.78 1.78 1.78 1.78 Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0830-1130 and 1330-1630. Some banks are also open on Saturday. Duty Free The following may be imported into St Maarten by tourists over 15 years of age only without incurring customs duty: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 100 cigarillos or 250g tobacco; 2l of alcoholic beverages; gifts to a value of NAG100. Restricted items: The import of souvenirs and leather goods from Haiti is not advisable. Public Holidays Nov 11 2002 St Maarten Day. Dec 15 Kingdom Day. Dec 25 Christmas Day. Dec 26 Boxing Day. Jan 1 2003 New Year’s Day. Apr 18 Good Friday. Apr 21 Easter Monday. Apr 30 Queen’s Birthday. May 1 May Day. May 8 Celebration of WWII Victory. May 29 Ascension. Jul 21 Schoelcher Day (Abolition of Slavery). Nov 1 All Saints’ Day. Nov 11 St Maarten Day. Dec 15 Kingdom Day. Dec 25 Christmas Day. Dec 26 Boxing Day. Jan 1 2004 New Year’s Day. Apr 9 Good Friday. Apr 12 Easter Monday. Apr 30 Queen’s Birthday. May 1 MayDay. May 8 Celebration of WWII Victory. May 20 Ascension. Jul 21 Schoelcher Day (Abolition of Slavery). Nov 1 All Saints’ Day. Nov 11 St Maarten Day. Dec 15 Kingdom Day. Dec 25 Christmas Day. Dec 26 Boxing Day. Health   Special Precautions Certificate Required Yellow Fever No 1 Cholera No No Typhoid and Polio No N/A Malaria No N/A 1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over six months of age if arriving within six days of leaving or transiting infected areas. Food & drink: Water on the island is considered safe to drink. Bottled mineral water is widely available. Milk is pasteurised and dairy products are safe for consumption. Local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables are generally considered safe to eat. Other risks: Hepatitis A may occur. Rabies occurs. Health care: There is one general hospital, the St Maarten Medical Centre in Cayhill. Medical care is good. Medical insurance is advised. Travel - International AIR: The national airline of the Netherlands Antilles is ALM (LM). The government-owned Winair (WIA), based at Princess Juliana Airport, has scheduled flights to the Lesser Antilles, as well as charter flights to destinations throughout the Eastern Caribbean. Other airlines serving St Maarten include American Airlines, Air France, BWIA, TWA, KLM and LIAT. Approximate flight times: From St Maarten to London (via Amsterdam) is 12-14 hours, to Los Angeles is 9 hours, to New York is 4 hours 10 minutes, to St Croix is 45 minutes and to Singapore is 33 hours (all depending on connections). International airports: Princess Juliana (SXM), 15km (9.5 miles) west of Philipsburg (travel time – 15 minutes), receives regular scheduled flights from other Caribbean islands, the USA and Europe. Taxis are available. Airport facilities include a bank, a restaurant, refreshments, duty-free shopping and car hire. In order to protect the livelihood of local taxi drivers, cars hired at the airport are delivered to guests’ hotels. Esperance (SFG), this airport is in the French sector, and is smaller and not equipped for jets. Departure tax: US$20 for all international departures; US$5 for flights to other islands of the Netherlands Antilles. Transit passengers and children under two years of age are exempt. SEA: St Maarten is a leading port of call for cruise liners. Ferry services operate to Saba, St Kitts, Nevis and St Barts. Cruises operated by Holland America, Cunard, Prince’s Cruise and Royal Viking regularly stop at Philipsburg. Travel - Internal SEA: Small boats may be chartered for fishing trips, scuba diving, water-skiing or visits to neighbouring islands. Daily ferries run to and from Anguilla, whilst a catamaran serves St Barts. There are marinas at Philipsburg, Oyster Pond and Simpson Bay Lagoon. ROAD: Most roads are good. Traffic drives on the right. Bus: These run regularly between Philipsburg and Marigot. Minibuses serve the more popular destinations. Taxi: There are good services on the island running from the airport, main hotels and towns. Taxis do not have meters but fares are fixed. There is a 50 per cent surcharge after midnight. There is a taxi station at Wathey Square. Car hire: There are plenty of car hire firms in the city and at the airport. Chauffeur-driven cars are also available. Documentation: A national driving licence is acceptable. Accommodation HOTELS: St Maarten has long been a popular holiday destination and is well prepared for the year-round rush, with over 40 hotels offering a total of nearly 9000 beds. Luxury hotels are equipped with everything a visitor could ever need, from casinos to beauty parlours, and have extensive watersports facilities on the premises; even modest beachside establishments usually have their own swimming pool, restaurant and a few skis to lend. A government tax of five per cent is levied on all hotel bills and many hotels add a ten to 15 per cent service charge. Some even add a further ten per cent as an energy surcharge. For further information, contact the St Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association, PO Box 486, Philipsburg, St Maarten (tel: 542 0108; fax: 542 0107; e-mail: info@shta.com; website: www.shta.com). GUEST-HOUSES: Several guest-houses cater for the less demanding; apartments and villas may be rented. Introduction The most prominent physical feature in St Maarten is the thickly wooded Mount Flagstaff, an extinct volcano, but the most important is undoubtedly the excellent beach that follows the south and west coasts. Beach activities and shopping at duty-free centres satisfy most tourists but there are several places of interest for the more enterprising visitor. PHILIPSBURG: The only town of any size, Philipsburg is situated on a sand bar that separates Great Salt Pond, an étang or salt marsh, from the ocean. The entire town consists of two streets, Voorstraat (Front Street) and Achterstraat (Back Street), running the length of the isthmus and joined by short, narrow alleys. Land has been reclaimed from the marsh for the construction of a ring road; local wits have suggested that this should be called Nieuwstraat (New Street) to preserve the Dutch feel of the place. Indeed, many buildings do date back to the early colonial era, and despite the multitude of duty-free shops, Philipsburg retains a predominantly colonial atmosphere. The nine shingled churches and the Queen Wilhelmina Golden Jubilee Monument are worth seeing. Nearby is Fort Amsterdam, dating from the time of the earliest settlers. Inland are the picturesque ruins of several plantation mansions, set in the wooded hills around Mount Flagstaff, and the Border Monument, celebrating 300 years of co-operation between the French and the Dutch. Across the border (no passports are required) is the charming market town of Marigot. Small boats are available for various watersports and fishing. Sport & Activities Sailing: Enthusiasts are well catered for on St Maarten. The island is one of the Caribbean’s leading sailing venues, hosting the Heineken Regatta every year. Accommodation for boats is often luxurious. The island has around 12 marinas in beautiful settings, which are well equipped, with some even providing cable television connections. All kinds of vessels can be rented at marinas, from motorboats and yachts to canoes. For those not wishing to pilot their own boat, charter companies offer day trips to other islands, and ‘picnic sails’ take visitors to secluded bays and nearby uninhabited islands. Watersports: Expeditions for deep sea fishing can be arranged, with half- and full-day charters available all year round. Bareboat charters are also available. Conditions are excellent for diving, with coral reefs located close to the shore. One of the most popular dive sites is the wreck of HMS Proselyte, a British man-of-war which sank in 1801. There are also many good sites for snorkelling. Bodyboarding is popular. Equipment for the full range of watersports can be hired through hotels or at the numerous dive shops on the island. Other: Both cycling and mountain biking can be pursued on the coastal road and along the trails around Paradise Peak. There are excellent views. Most large hotels have their own swimming pools and tennis courts. Horseriding expeditions can be arranged for riders of all levels. Social Profile Food & Drink: St Maarten’s cuisine is as varied as its history, combining Dutch, French, English, Creole and, more recently, international influences. Seafood is, of course, a speciality. Duty on alcohol (and other goods) is low and prices in St Maarten are as cheap as duty-free havens elsewhere. Most well-known brands are available. Nightlife: Many of the restaurants and bars have live entertainment and dancing until the early hours. All the large hotels have casinos. Shopping: There is a good range of high-quality duty-free shopping available in Philipsburg. Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0800-1200 and 1400-1800. Special Events: Carnival, which commences in mid-April, lasts for three weeks, and finishes spectacularly with the burning of King Momo. Light-hearted races for prizes take place monthly, and each year there is a relay race in which the tussle for the island between the French and the Dutch is re-enacted. In February each year, a regatta is held. Social Conventions: Dutch customs are still important throughout the Netherlands Antilles, but tourism has brought increasing US influences and St Maarten is perhaps more easy-going than the southern islands. Dress is casual and lightweight cottons are advised, but it is common to dress up in the evening. Tipping: Hotel bills always include a government tax of five per cent and often a service charge of ten to 15 per cent. Elsewhere, ten to 15 per cent is acceptable for doormen, waiters and bar staff. Taxi drivers do not expect a tip. Business Profile Economy: Tourism dominates the economy: 70 per cent of all visitors to the Netherlands Antilles visit St Maarten, which results in around half a million tourists annually bringing an estimated US$500 million to the economy. Further investment in the tourism infrastructure is under way, including a new major port. Government service provides one of the few alternative sources of employment, while subsistence farming and fishing meet a fair proportion of the islands’ domestic needs. St Maarten is the only island in the Antilles group apart from Curaçao which has achieved some success in developing an ‘offshore’ financial services industry. The Netherlands Antilles group enjoys Overseas Territory status at the EU and observer status at the Caribbean trading bloc CARICOM. Business: Formality in business is expected in most of the Netherlands Antilles and lightweight tropical suits should be worn. Appointments should be made in advance and punctuality is taken very seriously. It is customary to shake hands. Office hours: Mon-Fri 0730-1200 and 1330-1630. Commercial Information: The following organisation can offer advice: St Maarten Chamber of Commerce and Industry, PO Box 454, C A Cannegieter Street 11, Philipsburg (tel: 542 3590; fax: 542 3512; e-mail: coci@sintmaarten.net; website: www.sintmaarten.net). Climate Hot but tempered by cooling trade winds. The annual mean temperature is 27°C (80°F), varying by no more than two or three degrees throughout the year; average rainfall is 1772mm (70 inches). Required clothing: Tropicals and cottons are worn throughout the year. Umbrellas or light waterproofs are advisable. History and Government History: Occupied since prehistory by Carib Indians, St Maarten was sighted by Christopher Columbus on St Maarten’s day in 1493. However, the first European settlers were French and Dutch who, in 1648, partitioned the island. The island has remained under dual sovereignty ever since, the Dutch sector achieving partial independence from the Netherlands in 1954 with the establishment of the Netherlands Antilles. At the most recent general election for the Staten – the local governing body of the Antilles – held in January 2002, the socialist Frente Obrero Liberashon (Workers’ Liberation Front) won the largest number of seats but was excluded from office by a four-party centre-right coalition led by the Partido Antia Restruktura (Party for the Restructured Antilles, or PAR). The PAR, which is based on the island of Curaçao, has dominated Antilles’ politics since its formation a decade ago. PAR leader Miguel Pourier, who has held the premiership for most of the last decade, continues in office. Government: The Netherlands Antilles, Aruba and the Netherlands each have equal status within the Kingdom of the Netherlands as regions autonomous in internal affairs. The Queen is represented locally by a Governor, while the Netherlands Antilles are represented in the Government by a Minister Plenipotentiary. Foreign policy and defence matters are decided by a Council of Ministers of the Kingdom, including the Governor. The internal affairs of the Netherlands Antilles are administered by the central government of the Netherlands Antilles, based in Willemstad, Curaçao, which is responsible to the Staten (legislative assembly). St Maarten may elect by non-compulsory adult suffrage three of 22 members to the Staten. Routine local affairs on each island group (Bonaire, Curacao and the Windward Islands) are managed by an elected Island Council, presided over by a Lieutenant-Governor. Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.