Since the 10th of October 2010, Sint Maarten has a new political status: On the same day, the Netherlands Antilles have ceased to exist, and Sint Maarten has become a Country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
As such, the island now has an own parliament, whose 15 members have been elected by the population on the 17th of September. A new government has been formed based on the election results. The National Alliance (NA) obtained 7 seats, the United People's party (UP) 6 and the Democratic Party (DP) 2. This means that the new country St. Maarten now has a coalition government formed by the Democratic Party and the United People's party, and supported by a former National Alliance member. The new prime minister is Mrs. Sarah Wescot-Williams.
Former Netherlands Antilles member Curacao obtains the same status, while the former members Saba, Statia and Bonaire have become Public Entities of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. This status, similar to the one of a Dutch municipality, means that those islands are now fully integrated in the Kingdom and have to implement all Kingdom laws, with a temporary exception in a few cases.
For St. Maarten and Curacao, the new status means an increased autonomy in the fields of legislation, justice and executive power, and like before, the two island territories are not part of the European Union. This will of course not change the status of the French part of St. Martin, which remains a French oversea territory within the European Union.
Practically, this means for St. Maarten that there will no longer be a political authority - the former Netherlands Antilles - between the island and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Political decisions formerly made by the Antillean Parliament in Curacao are now made directly in St. Maarten. Furthermore, several government tasks, formerly executed by the Dutch Kingdom, are taken over by the government of St. Maarten.
Nevertheless, in order to assure good governance and sound financial decisions, the Kingdom of the Netherlands has established a period of at least two years of higher supervision in several fields, like justice, police and finances.. This was a condition by the Dutch government for canceling previously accumulated debts by St. Maarten and Curacao as part of the Netherlands Antilles. There will be a yearly meeting between the Dutch government and the new country St. Maarten in order to analyze the evolution of the new status. A lieutenant governor will still represent the Kingdom in St. Maarten. And the Dutch Kingdom will, like before, control certain portfolios like Foreign affairs or Defense. There will be a joint Central Bank and a joint Court of Justice for St. Maarten and Curacao.
On the 10-10-10, during a moving and sober ceremony in front of St. Maarten's Courthouse, the Netherlands Antilles flag was lowered and the Country St. Maarten flag raised. The new government, representatives of all political parties, the governor, the leaders of the government of French St. Martin and Anguilla, as well as a large crowd of St. Maarten's citizens and people from every section of public life were present at the ceremony, which finished by the first fireworks of the new Country.
Visitors to St. Maarten should thus not expect substantial changes in a near future, but should such changes happen, lifestyle-caribbean.com will inform you as soon as they will be known.
This article will be updated as soon as more information will be available. |
