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St. Maarten is the smallest
Island in the world to be shared by two sovereign
governments-namely the Dutch and French. The Dutch side, with
Philipsburg as its capital occupies the southern 17 square miles
of this 37-square-mile island; St. Martin, a French dependency,
occupies the northern half. The dual nationality adds variety to
this most unique of island gems in the Caribbean Sea. Both Dutch
St. Maarten and French St. Martin have maintained a peaceful
coexistence for over 350 years, the longest of any two bordering
nations. The two territories have enjoyed harmonious relations
through their history and have shared the prosperity of many
years without dispute. The Treaty of Concordia executed on March
23rd 1648 established this coexistence and has the unique
distinction of being the oldest Treaty still in force today. As
part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Dutch St. Maarten has
been both politically and economically stable. The territory is
not only a safe and pleasant place to do business, but also to
establish roots and raise a family. The total population has
grown from 13,156 in 1980 to nearly 39,000 in year 2000. It is
estimated that the population of St. Maarten consists of 77
different nationalities. The native languages are English and
Dutch. St. Maarten has an excellent seaport and airport, which
makes the island very attractive as a hub. Government is
presently in the process of a major road enhancement project,
which includes the construction of new roads, the re-paving of
existing roads, the implementation of roundabouts and traffic
lights. St. Maarten has a modern and up-to-par telecommunication
system. 3 companies offer telephone services and cellular phone
services. St. Maarten also several Internet providers and a
cable TV company that offers over 50 different channels.
Electricity and water is produced and distributed at the island
by Government controlled companies.
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