Regional NotesSt Martin/ St Maarten
GOVERNMENT This island is the smallest piece of land in the world where sovereignty is divided between two governments. The two territories belong to French Guadeloupe (St Martin, in the north) and Netherlands Antilles (St Maarten, in the south). You need to check with port authorities and immigration on arrival/departure between these two territories, at Philipsburg or Simpson Bay. However, there are no customs formalities. MONEY On the Dutch side the currency is the Netherlands Antilles Florin (NAF); on the French side, the French Franc and the Euro. Both welcome US dollars and major credit cards. Banks throughout the island open Monday to Friday 8.30am to 3.30 pm, and most banks have ATM machines. COMMUNICATIONS There are modern telecommunications. HISTORY, LANGUAGE, CULTURE African, Dutch and French cultures have lived side by side on the island for three hundred years. English, Spanish, Creole and Papiamento are also spoken. It is the most cosmopolitan of the Leeward Islands, and an upmarket destination for wealthy tourists. Traffic drives on the right. Local traffic requires patience, since there is frequent stopping to greet people and drop off goods. Horns and full beams are used freely for greeting and thanking other drivers. Hire car firms will accept foreign driving licences. There is a minibus service, picking up and dropping off anywhere along the route between scheduled stops. Public Holidays New Year's Day, Lenten Carnival in St Martin (February 26 & 27), Good Friday, Easter Monday, Carnival in St Maarten (Easter Week), Queen's Birthday in St Maarten (April 30), Labor Day (May 1), Ascension Day (40th day after Easter), Liberation Day in St Martin (21 July), Antillian Day in St Maarten (October 21), All Saints' Day (November 1), Armistice Day in St Martin (November 11), Flag Day in St Maarten (November 11), Christmas Day and Boxing Day. HEALTH St Martin/Maarten has a range of medical services, including hospitals and emergency clinics. IMPORTANT ADDRESSES, CONSULATES etc. American Consular Agent , 9 rue des Alpinias, Didier, Fort de France, MARTINIQUE, Tel (596) 71-96-90 or (596) 71-96-74 (for St Martin). American Consulate General, JB Gorsiraweg No 1, Willemstad, CURACAO, Tel (599-9) 461-3066 (for St Maarten) British Consulate, Jan Sofat 38 (PO Box 3803), CURACAO, Tel (599-9) 747-3322 Consulate of Canada, 16A Topaz Drive, St Maarten, Tel (011 599-5) 45023. SPECIAL FEATURES St Martin/St Maarten specialises in sea-faring trades. The island has many boat repair-yards, including sail specialists, and large chandleries. Regional LinksThe Locations |
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