Sint Maarten
Sint Maarten (Dutch pronunciation: [sɪntˈmaːrtə(n)] ⓘ) is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Caribbean.[7] With a population of 41,486[1] as of January 2019 on an area of 34 km2 (13 sq mi), it encompasses the southern 44% of the divided island of Saint Martin, while the northern 56% of the island constitutes the French overseas collectivity of Saint Martin. Sint Maarten's capital is Philipsburg.[8] Collectively, Sint Maarten and the other Dutch islands in the Caribbean are often called the Dutch Caribbean.
This article is about the island country. For other uses, see Sint Maarten (disambiguation).
Sint Maarten
10 October 2010
- 82.18% Christianity
- 33.13% Roman Catholic
- 49.05% Protestant
- 14.74% Pentecostal
- 9.96% Methodist
- 6.62% Seventh-day Adventist
- 4.72% Baptist
- 3.06% Anglican
- 1.7% Jehovah's Witnesses
- 6.89% Other Christian
- 7.9% No religion
- 5.2% Hinduism
- 2.37% Not stated
- 0.8% Other
Sint Maartener
Parliamentary representative democracy within a constitutional monarchy
383 m (1,257 ft)
1,221/km2 (3,162.4/sq mi) (10th)
2018 estimate
$1.436 billion[3]
$35,342[3]
2018 estimate
US$1.185 billion[4]
120 V–60 Hz
right
Before 10 October 2010, Sint Maarten was known as the Island Territory of Sint Maarten (Dutch: Eilandgebied Sint Maarten), and was one of six (from 1986 five) island territories (eilandgebieden) that constituted the Netherlands Antilles.[8] Sint Maarten has the status of an overseas country; it is not part of the European Union, but is a member of the Overseas Countries and Territories Association.
On 6 and 7 September 2017, the island was hit by Category 5 Hurricane Irma, which caused widespread and significant damage to buildings and infrastructure.[8]
Etymology[edit]
Due to confusion on early maps, the island accidentally got the name Christopher Columbus gave in honour of Saint Martin of Tours, when he first sighted Nevis on the saint's feast day on 11 November 1493.
"Sint Maarten" is Saint Martin in Dutch.
Ecology[edit]
Plants[edit]
Sint Maarten is home to many distinctive plants such as hibiscus, yellow sage (seen on the flag), flamboyant trees, mahogany, and cacti. An estimated 522 wild plants are present, mainly being seed plants and a few ferns. The Calyptranthes boldinghgii and Galactia nummelaria are “island-endemic” and it is suspected that they have already gone extinct. Much of the hilltops are semi-evergreen seasonal forests which are rare in the region.[57]
The categorization of native, introduced, and invasive plant species is not as well documented for the island. Some of the introduced plant species include: manila grass (Zoysia matrella), Spanish bayonet ( Yucca aloifolia), Singapore almond (Terminalia catappa), true aloe (Aloe vera). Some of the native species are west Indian holly (Tunera ulmifolia), spiny amaranth (Amaranthus spinosus), bell pepper (Capsium pulcherrima), salt heliotrope (Heliotropium curassavicum), bay rum tree (pimento racemose), and sourbush (pluchea carolinesis). One of the invasive species on the island is crowfoot grass (Dactyloctenium aegyptium).[58]
Mullet Pond[edit]
Mullet Pond, a section of the inland lagoon Simpson Bay Lagoon, is home to 70% of Sint Maarten's mangrove population on the Dutch side of the island. Mangroves are a nursery for many young fish and during hurricane season they provide coastal protection. The area, however, is at risk due to dredging, tourism activities, and the yacht industry on the island.
Mullet Pond is the 55th Ramsar site since 2016[59] and therefore protected according to the Ramsar Treaty, a global commitment to protect ecologically significant wetland areas.
Challenges[edit]
The effects of climate change are felt on Sint Maarten. According to the Netherlands Antilles Coral Reef Initiative the coral reefs were fragmented due to a temperature rise to 30 °C in 2005.[60] Twenty years ago, the sea grass beds were much larger. Natural disasters (hurricanes), development, and a tourism-based industry caused a significant decrease over the years. The seagrass beds are important for anchoring the sand in place as well as hurricane protection.[60] Without the seagrass bed sand can easily be moved by a hurricane resulting in the loss of beaches or sand accumulates in one area, impacting marine life.
Education[edit]
Previously residents had to complete secondary studies in Aruba or Curaçao.[66] Prior to 1976, Sint Maarten had two secondary schools: the government secondary school John Phillips School and the Catholic secondary school Pastoor Nieuwen Huis School. Philips was both a MAVO/ETAO school while Huis was a MAVO school. The foundation Stichting Voortgezet Onderwijs van de Bovenwindse Eilanden, established on 20 February 1974,[86] was created as the neutral governing body for a new school created by the merger of Phillips and Huis schools.[87] MPC, the merged school, opened on 17 August 1976.[86]
The Caribbean International Academy (CIA), founded in 2003 is a preparatory private boarding and day school on the island of St. Maarten. Catering to children from Kindergarten to Grade 12, CIA is also the only school offering Canadian/Ontario High School Diploma (OSSD) and 90% of their graduates go on to attend universities in Europe, Canada and the United States.[88] Learning Unlimited Preparatory School (LUPS) is an American accredited institution, that established a Caribbean location in St.Maarten in 1991.[89] The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Independent Schools and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.[90]
Most residents who attend tertiary institutions do so in Curaçao or European Netherlands.[65]
The American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC), founded in 1978, was previously located on Montserrat. Because of the eruption of the Soufrière Hills volcano in 1995, AUC moved its campus to St. Maarten later that year. A permanent campus was completed in 1998 in Cupecoy.
The University of St. Martin is located in Philipsburg. The University of Sint Eustatius School of Medicine, founded in 1999, was previously located on Sint Eustatius. In September 2013, the University of Sint Eustatius moved its campus to Cole Bay, St. Maarten.
Philipsburg Jubilee Library in Philipsburg was the most prominent library in Sint Maarten.[91] However, after Hurricane Irma hit the island in 2017, the library was forced to shut down. As of February 2019, Philipsburg Jubilee Library still lacks the funding necessary for it to be rebuilt,[92] but has recently reopened in a temporary location until further notice.[93]