Background
When
Columbus,the explorer of the Island, found out St.Martin in 1493, the
island had been inhabited by tribe of Arawak Indians. In those years,
the Island was named by the Indians as "Sualouiga" meaning "Land of
Salt" for the salt-pans and the brackish water. After the explorer, the
island started to call a new name "the feast of St. Martin". The
Arawaks were later supplanted by a more aggressive tribe of Indians,
the Caribs, who came down from North America and for whom the entire
Caribbean is named.
Through
the Island's history,it is seen that the Spanish never took much
interest in St.Martin. Unlike Spanish, the Dutch occupied the island in
1631. Before long, however, the Spanish tend to maintain their state
monopoly in this essential preservative so they recaptured the island,
and expelled the Dutch, who then moved on to occupy Curaco.
The
contention on the possession of the Island between Spanish and Dutch
makes the island for a great history. At the end, the island was
partitioned among 2 nations as follows: the French along the northern
edge and the Dutch along the southern. The treaty was signed between
these 2 on top of Mount Concordia in 1648. Despite this peaceful
cohabitation, the border was changed 16 times till 1815, when the
Treaty of Paris fixed the boundaries for good.
Due
to the cultivation of sugar cane, slavery had got popularity through
the island. On July 12, 1848 the slavery was abolished by the French.
On tha contrary, the Dutch slaves were emancipated 15 years later.
After the abolishment of slavery, the island faced with a serious
depression that lasted until 1939, when the island was declared a
duty-free port. The Dutch began developing a tourist industry in the
1950's, but the French didn't take advantage of this opportunity until
the 1970's. St.Martin continued its large-scale construction projects
throughout the 1980's and most of the development has been completed in
recent years while taking into account the preservation of the island's
natural resources.
In
1946, Guadeloupe, of which St. Martin is a dependency, became an
Overseas Department of France, and in 1974, an Overseas Region of
France. Islanders are entitled to vote in French elections.
Holidays
Jan 1 - New Year's Day
Jan 6 - Epiphany (French side)
Mar 25* - Good Friday
Mar 27-28* - Easter
Apr 29* - Carnival
Apr 30 - Dutch Queen's Birthday (Dutch side)
May 1 - May Day (both sides)
May 5* - Ascension
May 8 - Celebration of WWII Victory (both sides)
Jul 14 - Bastille Day (French side only)
Jul 21 - Schoelcher Day (Abolition of Slavery)
Aug 15 - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Nov 1 - All Saints' Day
Nov 11 - Concordia Day/Feast of St Martin/ Armistice Day (French side)
Dec 15 - Kingdom Day (Dutch side)
Dec 25 - Christmas Day
Dec 26 - Boxing Day (Dutch side)
Ps: These festivals' dates (*) given above are approximations which are subject to change every new year.
Phone Codes
Country Code: 599
Outgoing International Code: 00
Resources
Market Research
About St. Martin
This
website is dedicated to the visual exploration of the St. Martin island
via providing information about businesses, opportunities for tourism,
country outlook...etc.
St. Martin Business Directory
There is available a business directory for St.Martin that indicates almost all businesses settled in the Island.
Doing Business in St. Martin
St.Martin Economic Development Authority represents collection of
resources are excellent starting points for anyone interested in
opening a business, as well as existing businesses who are looking for
additional resources.
U.K Trade and Investment in St. Martin
UK Trade & Investment provides export information in terms of doing
business in the Island, investment opportunities of St. Martin.
Trade Information
St. Martin Parish Chambers of Commerce
St. Martin Parish has two active and vital chambers of commerce serving
the citizens and business community of the Parish like BREAUX BRIDGE
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, ST. MARTINVILLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE including
their contact information.
St. Martin Parish Government
It is the official website of St. Martin Parish Government that
contains a wide range of information about the structure and the
branches of St. Martin government.
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