Section 1: The Island and the People - Baseline Information

Check out the basic statistics of Sint Maarten in their Statistical Yearbook.

Also explore the status of Sint Maarten relative to the MDGs that concluded in 2015.

and their embarking on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) since then with a focus on four SDGs.

The centre of the island (across which the political boundary runs) is composed of a mountainous spine rising to 425 m. The coastal areas are a mixture of flat lands and low hills punctuated by numerous ponds, primarily of high salinity. Coastal shorelines are characterised by sand or rock beaches with cliffs in between. Simpson Bay Lagoon, one of the largest lagoons in the Lesser Antilles, is a dominant feature of the island and a major yachting centre. The Sint Maarten side of the lagoon is almost completely developed. The terrestrial vegetation is thorny woodland, dominated by scrub in the lowlands and low forest in the mountains with small patches of the original semi-evergreen forest on the highest ridges.

History and cultural heritage

Based on contents in St Maarten Proposed Land Parks Management Plan 2009

The information in this section has been adapted from the book; “A short History of Sint Maarten” (2004) available from the Sint Maarten Museum.

Prehistory and Early Years

There are a few rare archaeological sites which indicate inhabitation in the Caribbean Islands by “Lithic Age” peoples prior to 4000 BC. Evidence points to the possibility that the South American Stone Age people, known as the Ciboneys, lived on St. Maarten 4000 BC.

From 4000 BC to about 500 BC, peoples of the “Archaic Age” level of technological development migrated onto the islands from South-/Central- and North America. These Archaic Age people were semi-nomadic hunter-gatherer-fishing folk, using simple stone and shell and probably wooden tools, who did not engage in agriculture nor the manufacture of ceramic vessels. Neither the ethnic associations nor the language of these peoples are known. On St. Martin, the Norman Estate site on the French side is the only site of this time period discovered, and it dates to about 2000 BC.

Around 500 BC, known as the “Ceramic Age” people from South America began to migrate into the Caribbean region. These were far more developed societies than the Archaic peoples. These initial Ceramic Age communities had complex social, economic and religious systems and farmed manioc and other crops, used large sea-faring canoes, produced ceramics, stone and shell tools.

These more advanced migrants from about 500 BC, are often referred to as ‘Saladoid’ people. The name that was given to these people is derived from the place where archaeologists first identified them, the Saladero site in the Orinoco basin in Venezuela.

It is doubtful that there was a large-scale prehistoric Carib migration into the Northern Lesser Antilles. There is also no record that Amerindians were still living on the island when the first Europeans passed by St. Martin/St. Maarten in the 1490’. (Dr. Jay Haviser - communication to NAFSXM 2006).

During his 1492 – 1494 voyage, Christopher Columbus ‘discovered’ the Caribbean islands; possibly sighting St. Maarten on November 11, 1493. The island was named after St. Martin, the bishop of Tours. Some evidence indicates that the island Columbus saw was Nevis, with later confusion leading to the naming of St Martin. Throughout the fifteenth century, many Caribbean islands were occupied by the Spanish, English and French, while St. Maarten was not occupied because it was not considered to be of any important value to European traders or merchants.

In 1624 the first Dutchman set foot on the island and found it uninhabited and continued to explore the island in greater depth. The salt ponds were discovered and their importance recognized by the Dutch traders since salt was used for the preservation of food. In 1631 a small group of Dutchmen claimed the island for the ‘West-Indische Companie’ (West India Company). Simultaneously, a group of Frenchman settled in the area now known as the French Quarter.

In 1632 the Dutch built Fort Amsterdam and continued harvesting salt which became one of the main reasons for the expanding Dutch settlement. Around this time, Anguilla was also occupied and a small fort was built there as well. In 1633, the Spanish recaptured both islands and used the materials of the Anguillan fort to reinforce Fort Amsterdam on St. Martin. They also built a second fort on Pointe Blanche, now known as ‘the Old Spanish Fort’. Under the command of Peter Stuyvesant, director of the West India Company, the Dutch attempted to recapture St. Maarten in 1644 with some 800 soldiers. In spite of various attacks and an effort to starve the Spaniards, the Dutch could not force the Spanish to surrender. The Spanish did not leave St. Maarten until 1648.

The Dutch and French immediately moved back to the island and on March 23, 1648, the famous partition agreement was signed on Mont des Accords (Concordia). The colonists introduced various commercial crops, such as tobacco, indigo, coffee, cotton and sugarcane. Trade began to expand and the island prospered.

The island changed hands frequently between France, England and Holland. The number of people on the island fluctuated sharply but by 1667 John Simpson was commander of the Dutch Part and Simpson Bay may be named after him.

Through the early 1700’s, the British periodically drove out the French, but the Dutch remained in control in their part of the island. The Dutch Governor John Philips revived the production of salt and persuaded the landowners to plant more coffee, sugarcane and cotton. The English came in large numbers, bringing their English-speaking slaves with them. With the English influence, the Dutch language and culture faded into the background. Fort Amsterdam was strengthened and the main village moved from Cul-de-Sac to its present location and named Philipsburg in honour of the governor.

The English continued to try and take over the island, and by 1817 the island had changed hands 16 times. In 1845 the large geographically dispersed Dutch administrative colony of Curaçao was divided into the three Windward Islands (St. Maarten, Saba and St. Eustatius) and the three Leeward Islands (Curaçao, Aruba and Bonaire).

The second half of the eighteenth century brought prosperity and at its peak in the late 1700s there were 92 estates on the island with sugarcane as the main crop. From the late 1700s, to the early 20th century sugar was the large business. It was in the context of the Dutch Antilles sugar production boom that Saint Martin began to produce sugar cane in 1772. In 1786, almost 1000 acres were being run by 24 sugar mills, producing 875 tons each year until the early 20th century with the closure of the last sugar mill in Spring (Marigot).

Due in part to the prohibition of the slave trade, the plantation economy declined over a period of years in this era. The abolition of slavery on French St. Martin took place in 1848. A number of slaves on the Dutch side, moved to the French side where they acquired the status of free foreigners. (One route, the ‘freedom path’ can still be found at the border, between the Dutch and the French Quarter.) To prevent unrest, Dutch plantation owners requested that the Dutch Government abolish slavery in the Dutch colonies. It was not until 1863 that slavery was officially abolished. Eventually, many estate owners left the island and ex-slaves were able to obtain land on or around the former estates.

From the Late 19th century to the 1960s, salt production became the dominant island enterprise. To reboost the declining economy following the crisis in sugar farming in the early 19th century, the people began to exploit the many salt ponds on the French side. The Dutch were already exploiting ponds on their side of the island. There are 3 large salt ponds on the French side of the island, in Grand Case, Quartier d’Orléans and Chevrise. The industrial extraction of salt lasts around a century. The last working salt plant, in Grand Case, closed its doors in the 1960s when it was no longer a profitable enterprise.

From 1820 to 1848, a number of important buildings were constructed including the Reformed Church, the Pasanggrahan (Government Lodging House) and the Methodist Church. There was a revival of the salt industry from 1735 onward whic

Through the late 1800’s and early 1900’s industry on St. Maarten declined; the production of sugar stopped in 1875, cotton in 1932 and salt in the 1940s (Image 2). People returned to subsistence agriculture and fishing. The economic decline forced many Saint-Martiners, both French and Dutch into exile. Many emigrated to the islands of Aruba and Curaçao, drawn by the oil refineries set up by the Dutch-British Shell Oil Company in the 1920s. Others emigrated to the Dominican Republic, the US Virgin Islands and the USA. Historians believe that between 1920 and 1929 the island’s population fell by 18 percent.

In 1939 France and the Netherlands abolished customs duty and indirect taxes between the two zones (Dutch and French), which allowed for unimpeded development of commercial and economic relations between the two parts of the island. At this time, the French administration had very little to do with Saint Martin, except to rescue some soldiers in the two World Wars. It was the Second World War that pulled Saint Martin out of isolation and into the spotlight. Under the Vichy Regime (1940-1944) a blockade was imposed on allied forces. During and after the War, trade with the United States intensified. The US became the island’s only supplier. This was a lucrative time for many traders, who made their money by selling cigarettes, fabrics and goods in Guadeloupe and Martinique. It was at this time that a climate of self-administration and self-management began to develop, resulting in a blend of local customs, legal vacuums and foreign practices.

In 1943, the site of the present-day Princess Juliana International Airport (Dutch side) became a strategic US airbase to intercept German submarines. This American presence helped to Americanize and Anglicize the population of Saint Martin/Sint Maarten, and English became the working language across the island, alongside French in the north, Dutch in the south and the common island patrois.

‘Salt picking’ at the Great Salt Pond St. Maarten in the 1920’s. (source: St. Maarten National Heritage Foundation, heritage@caribserve.net)

In the Second World War, Holland was occupied by Germany and France took control over the island for 10 days. The French side was under Vichy control, and was blockaded by Allied forces. In 1943 the Juliana Airport was opened on the Dutch side.

In 1948 the frontier monument was erected, celebrating 300 years of peaceful coexistence. In 1951 the Netherlands Antilles signed the ‘statuut’ to become autonomous, and were reorganized into Curaçao, Aruba, Bonaire and the Windward Islands, each with its own territorial government.

The first major hotel (Little Bay) was constructed in 1955. In 1959 the first local radio station began broadcasting. In 1960 a major hurricane (Donna) hit the island. In the Lowlands the first luxury villas were built in the 60’s. In 1966 Philipsburg was extended by filling in part of the nearby Salt Pond. Numbers of tourists grew along with developments in air transport. The economy expanded rapidly. Many St. Maarteners returned home. Employment levels were high and the boom in tourism attracted people from other islands as well as different parts of the world. The population grew rapidly, on the Dutch side escalating from around 7.000 in 1970 to more than 30.000 in 1995 and 40.000 by 2015.

Culture

The cultural diversity of St. Maarten springs from its historical role as a crossroads for visitors to the New World. Dutch, French and British traders brought European traditions, while Afro-Caribbean people brought the language and culture of West Africa. Today the range of influences is reflected in the number of languages spoken. Dutch is the official language, but English is taught in schools and spoken everywhere, while other common languages are Spanish and Papiamento, the dialect of the Netherlands Antilles. St. Maarten's premier cultural event is its annual Carnival (Image Group 1), which includes parades, calypso competitions, reggae shows, and an endless array of stands serving traditional island food.

The island culture has its roots largely in African, French and Dutch influences, though scores of more recent immigrants have added their own elements to this multicultural society. The tourist boom of the past few decades has resulted in an influx of job-seekers from other Caribbean islands and today only about 20% of all residents were born on the island. Education is compulsory, and approximately 99 percent of the children attend school. The government spends about a third of its budget on education, which is modelled on the Dutch system. There are technical and vocational schools, teacher’s colleges and two other further education establishments: The University of St. Maarten and the American University of the Caribbean.

Source: WBG, https://data.worldbank.org/country/sint-maarten-dutch-part

Source: Department of Statistics Sint Maarten. http://www.stat.gov.sx

Sint Maarten’s population increased 26.9% between 1992 and 2015. In the 1980s, St Martin experienced a construction boom related to the development of tourism. This resulted in extremely high immigration that caused a very rapid population growth, given the small size of the total population. The population increased from 8,000 inhabitants in 1982 to nearly 29,000 in 1990. It stabilized in the 1990s since a fair proportion of migrants left after the end of the construction boom. Population growth resumed in the 21st century, with the arrival of a new but more moderate-level migration wave (0.7% net migration p.a.) than the previous one. The main cause of the population increase has been natural growth (2.1%) due to rather high fertility. Thus, the high total growth rate (2.8%) increased the population to 36,661 inhabitants by the 2008 census.

In 1992, the population structure had an expansive pyramidal shape in the age groups over 30 years of age. The population younger than that showed a regressive shape between the ages 15 and 30 years and an expansive shape in the population younger than 20 years old. By 2015, the regressive shape had shifted to the groups older than 30 years, showing stationary growth below that age, as a result of decreases in birth and mortality rates in the last decades.

The average life expectancy at birth for total population in 2011–2012 was 77.1 years for females and 69.2 years for males (1). The proportion of the elderly population in Sint Maarten has been steadily increasing. In 2002, 5% of the population was 60 years or older, compared to 5.9% in 2007 and 11% in 2012. The age groups between 50 and 60 years old represented 22% of the population, with the older segment of that group projected to grow most. In 2014, the productive age group (20-64 years old) accounted for 66% of the population, followed by the 0-19-year-olds (27.9%), and 65-year-olds and older (6.1%). The percentage of the elderly population is increasing steadily, shifting the socioeconomic landscape and adding stress to the demand for health care services.

This demographic shift will be a major contributor in the rise of health care costs and will put added pressure on the limited financial and human resources in the health sector. Figure 1 shows Sint Maarten’s population structure, by age and sex, for 1992 and 2015.

Source: Department of Statistics Sint Maarten.

Roughly 19% of the population belongs to a household consisting of a married couple with children, and 15% live in single-parent households. Within this latter category, single mothers with one or more children represent 13.18% of the population.

Migration

Another important feature of the island’s characteristics is the long standing emigration and immigration history. In 2012, Sint Maarten’s population included persons of 91 recognized nationalities, with 118 different countries of birth. Most immigrants come to Sint Maarten for employment opportunities. For example, many private businesses, such as hotels, restaurants, and resorts, are owned by immigrants. Certain specialist positions can only be filled by foreign workers with qualifying training and experience. Immigrants also meet labor needs in areas such as construction, catering services, and cleaning.

Climate

Rainfall

http://www.meteosxm.com/wp-content/uploads/Climatological-Summary-2018.pdf 63.03°W. The general climate usually varies from a relatively dry season (January-April) to a rainy season (August-December), with moderate winds from the east to northeast. Showers normally occur during the late afternoon, as local effects of heating, humidity, etc. combine. Additionally, temperatures usually remain around 27°C with the warmest month being August. The tropical nature of the island extends into seawater temperatures of around 27.2°C, while skies typically range between mostly clear to partly cloudy.

Check out the historical precipitation at Philipsburg.

The total rainfall recorded at the Princess Juliana International Airport, for the year 2018 was 905.5 mm or 35.6 inches. The normal annual rainfall ranges from about 1026 mm ― 1274 mm/40 ― 50 inches (1981―2010). This year’s total rainfall was below the normal range by approximately 23%. 2018 was also drier than 2017.

October was the wettest month of the year, with a total of 164.3 mm or 6.5 inches; while the driest month was June with 12.8 mm or 0.5 inches. The wettest day of the year was October 13th, when 56.9 mm or 2.2 inches was recorded as a result of instability associated with an upper level trough across the area.

A rain day is considered as any day, which records 1.0 mm or more of rainfall. Normally there are approximately 145 rain days in a year on St. Maarten. For 2018, there were 162 rain days with the months of February and November having the most (18 days) followed by January with seventeen (17) days. January 2018 was the wettest January since 2012 while February 2018 was the wettest February since 2011. There are about 10 rain days in the month of February on average, February 2018 had the highest number of rain days among all the Februarys on record (since 1961); 18 days. In total 2018 had the highest number of rain days (162) since 2006.

Temperature

The average temperature recorded in 2018 was 27.3° C (81° F) which was slightly above normal. The 30-year normal (1981―2010) is 27.2o C. September was the warmest months with an average temperature of 29.0o C (84o F) while February was the coolest month with an average temperature of 25.2o C (77o F). The highest daily temperature recorded in 2018 was 33.8° C (93° F) which was recorded on September 10th while the lowest daily temperature was recorded on March 3th as 20.5° C (69° F).

Wind

Surface wind at the Princess Juliana International Airport for 2018 was generally from the east at an average speed of 9.8 knots (11 mph) which was slightly above average compared to the 30―year average (1981―2010). The highest monthly average wind speeds were recorded in February and July as 12 knots (14 mph); while September had the lowest monthly average wind speeds at 6 knots (7 mph).

Geology and geomorphology

St. Martin/St. Maarten forms part of the non-volcanic arc of the Lesser Antilles. The oldest layers of rock date back approximately 50 million years (Westermann, 1957). These older rocks are sedimentary – and made of marine deposits that were once on the ocean floor. More recently these layers were folded by tectonic forces, then pushed above the water surface (see below).

Layered sedimentary Rock on the shores of St. Maarten (source: NAFSXM)

These oldest layers, “The Pointe Blanche Formation” form two parallel chains of hills which include; Fort Hill (220 m), Cole Bay Hill (215 m), Sentry Hill (344 m), Saint Peters Hill (317 m), Flagstaff (386 m), Mount Paradise (400 m) en Naked Boy Hill (300 m). The hilly parts of the island were formed in the Oligocene Period (34 to 23 million years before present).

In the Miocene Period (23 to 5.3 million years before present), the “Pointe Blanche Formation” was submerged by the sea, during a period of local subsidence of the earth crust. This allowed calcium and other marine deposits to accumulate, which now form the Terres Basses or Lowlands on the western part of the island. A second period of tectonic activity brought the area above sea level. Throughout the Pleistocene Era (1.8 million to 12,000 years before present) there was an ice age which locked up much of the earth’s water on land. The area, which incorporated Sint Maarten and the nearby islands of Anguilla and St. Barthélemy, remained above sea level as one large land mass. During the coldest periods of the ice age in the Pleistocene Era, the sea level was 36 m lower than at present.

At the end of the Pleistocene glaciation, ice melted and the sea level rose. The large, single island flooded and only the highest parts remained above sea level – forming the islands of St. Martin/St. Maarten, Anguilla and St. Barthélemy as they are known today. The Simpson Bay Lagoon, Great Salt Pond, Great Bay and other bays and lagoons are drowned valleys. The plateau the neighbouring islands sit on has a maximum depth of 36 m and is known as the Anguilla Bank.

More recent igneous rock formations include those in the Colombier Valley, Cul-de-Sac and Belle Plaine. The Williams Hill (264 m) is formed from dark coloured dolerite, which is a type of magma. The youngest rock formations, the coral reefs, are formed in the ocean and lie around 5 to 6 m above the sea level and can be found mainly on the Eastern part of the island.

A number of geomorphological landforms exist on St. Maarten - including sand bars, and spits which are formed by water movement and sand deposition around the bays and coastline. Soils on the hill slopes are not very well developed due to the comparatively high rainfall and associated high rates of erosion. In the valleys, on the less porous rock, soils are generally well developed where they have not been removed for building foundations and other infrastructure development.

Macro economics

References and sources:

• From Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten, based on 2018 estimates.
• Data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Statistical Yearbook, 2017, Department of Statistics Sint Maarten.
• National Recovery and Resilience Plan (2018).

Per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of US$27,200 as of 2016.2 Sint Maarten and Curaçao form a currency union with a joint central bank, the Centrale Bank van Curaçao en Sint Maarten (Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten, or CBCS) and a shared currency, the Netherlands Antillean guilder (NA f.), which maintains a fixed exchange rate to the U.S. dollar

In 2016, tourism accounted for 45 percent of its GDP and 73 percent of its foreign exchange. The economy is driven by retail and wholesale trade, hotels and restaurants, real estate, transport and communication, yacht repair, and harbor services. Prior to the hurricane, Sint Maarten’s capital, Philipsburg, was the second most visited port in the Caribbean, and its airport served as a hub for several nearby smaller islands. Between 2012 and 2016, Sint Maarten received a yearly average of 1.8 million cruise passengers and 500,000 visitors arriving by air, who together spent about US$820 million a year.3 Sint Maarten’s nominal GDP was estimated at about US$1.07 billion in 2016. Key economic indicators based on the IMF, CBCS (what is CBCS?) and World Bank staff estimates are shared on the Table 1.

While loss of life was limited after Hurricane Irma, total damages and losses were estimated at about US$2.7 billion or 260 percent of 2016 GDP. Of these total damages, approximately 129 percent of GDP in damages were in private housing, tourism and commerce sectors, and the publicly owned airport and harbor. Losses (foregone production and decline in economic flows over 2017 to 2019) were estimated at about 129 percent of GDP, mostly in the tourism sector. As a result, Sint Maarten’s economy is expected to contract by 8.5 percent in 2018, following an estimated 4.5 percent contraction in 2017.

The severe downturn in economic activity following the damage caused by hurricanes Irma and Maria to the country’s infrastructure has created severe challenges for the public and private sector. Rapid economic recovery and reconstruction are critically needed to generate income and stem the loss of jobs. Sint Maarten’s overall unemployment rate increased from 6.2 percent in 2017 to 9.9 percent in 2018, with youth unemployment at 17.9 percent in 2018

Growth is projected to rebound in 2019 and the economy is expected to return to its pre-Hurricane Irma real GDP level by 2025. Private external finance from direct investment, loans, pay-out of insurance claims, and funds held abroad will be needed to finance reconstruction of private properties and businesses. A sharp decline in tax revenue has cut public resource availability, while the need for public expenditure to rebuild public infrastructure and assist the affected population has risen sharply.

Before the hurricane there were a total of 4,115 hotel and timeshare rooms on the Dutch side. As of October 2018, the capacity approached 65 percent of this level. Damages to the main airport and hotels have significantly reduced the number of overnight tourist arrivals and the airport is running at 60 percent throughput of the pre-hurricane levels (for both landing slots and passenger throughput), though cruise arrivals are now resuming to pre-hurricane levels. However, as most of the income on the island was derived from overnight stays of tourists arriving by air, the impact has been significant for enterprises and households. Many businesses have closed, and out-migration has increased. For surviving enterprises, there is a need to retain workers and continue the post-disaster recovery investment to restore to pre- hurricane enterprise capital and labor levels.

The tourism sector is slowly recovering with the number of available rooms growing, renewed support for a country-level marketing plan, and increasing airport passenger handling throughput. Work to repair the airport to handle capacities commensurate to pre-hurricane levels and concurrently provide for interim capacity, while the permanent structure is repaired, is ongoing. Although the hotel inventory will take longer to return, the majority of hotels have decided to reinvest and upgrade their properties, and almost all hotels have reinvestment plans to restore their room capacities over the next one to four years.

The government of Sint Maarten is subject to the Kingdom of the Netherlands legislation aimed at financial sustainability and sound public financial management. The framework includes a limit to borrow for capital expenditures only and a ceiling on the annual interest burden, and, is supervised by a Kingdom-led Financial Supervisory Board (CFT). At the same time, all external finance to the central government is made available by the Netherlands through the “standing subscription arrangement”, which allows Sint Maarten to issue debt at the same interest rate as the Dutch government obtains on the capital markets. In view of the post-disaster exceptional circumstances, Sint Maarten has been allowed to incur a deficit on its current revenue-expenditure balance and borrow the liquidity support needed to cover this deficit through this low-cost borrowing arrangement. Sint Maarten’s macroeconomic policy framework is adequate for this development policy financing operation in light of the Kingdom legislation and supervision on financial sustainability and the low-cost borrowing arrangement with the Netherlands.

Leading Health Challenges

Chronic Conditions

Given Sint Maarten’s current epidemiological-transition stage, communicable diseases remain a challenge among the population, while noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) continue to rise. According to the most recent census (2011), the leading NCDs were high blood pressure (10.7%), followed by diabetes mellitus (5.3%) and asthma (2.6%). In the 2011 census, diseases such as sickle cell anemia, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease were included for the first time.

The infant mortality rate between 2010 and 2013 rose from 4 births per 1,000 live births to 12, an increase attributable to improved registration. For the age group 0-14 years old, the 2011 population census reported that 89% had a positive opinion of their health, two-thirds of which reported having “very good” health and one-third reporting “good” health. The most common disease reported in this age group in the 2011 census was asthma or chronic bronchitis, affecting 4% of this group. This was followed by multiple disabilities (0.59%), sickle cell disease (0.28%), and diabetes (0.12%). According to the 2011 census, more than 94.6% of this age group reported having no disability (9).

Health of Adults

In the 2011 census, 87.0% of adults aged 20-64 years appraised their health as “very good” or “good,” evenly split between “good” and “very good.” For adults in this age group, the 2011 census reported that high blood pressure was the leading disease (9.14%), followed by diabetes (2.9%), and asthma/chronic bronchitis (1.4%). Among this age group 80.4% reported having no disability (9).

Health of the Elderly

According to the 2011 census, 60.6% of those 65 years old and older reported their health as “very good” or “good.” Of them, 36.6% reported “very good” health and 33.4% reported “good” health. The census also reported that 18.2% of this age group stated that they had high blood pressure, 7.0% diabetes, 1.5% glaucoma or eye pressure, 1.0% heart problems, and 24.6% other diseases; 38.8% of the group reported having no disability (9).

Vector Borne Disease

In terms of vector-borne diseases, in 2010, three dengue fever cases were reported in 2010; no severe dengue cases were reported. In 2011 and 2012, 22 and 38 dengue cases were reported, respectively. By 2013, there were 310 dengue fever cases and 6 severe cases reported, for a total of 316 confirmed cases. Of these, 44% were among females and 52% were among males; 4% were registered as “unknown.” Those 25-44 years old were the most affected by the disease, accounting for 35% of all cases. Sint Maarten reported its first confirmed case of chikungunya on December 6, 2013; 8 cases were confirmed in the country that year.

There were no autochthonous malaria cases reported during in 2010–2013. However, there were two imported cases of malaria¾one from Nigeria in 2011, and one from India in 2012. For the 2010 to 2013 period, no cholera cases were reported. Salmonellosis was the leading enteric disease reported, with 11 cases between 2010 and 2013. Two cases of shigellosis were reported.

In 2011, there were 18 new cases of HIV reported, 57.1% among males and 49.9% among females. Of these, four were diagnosed as AIDS, equally divided among males and females. The age groups most affected by HIV were 20-24-year-olds and 40-44-year-olds.

In 2013, 83.3% of adults diagnosed with HIV were being treated with antiretroviral drugs 12 months after diagnosis. There were no vertical transmissions from two HIV-infected mothers receiving antiretroviral therapy treatment. General practitioners request HIV tests, which are then analyzed at Sint Maarten Laboratory Services. There is some duplication of laboratory testing, which is a matter of concern within the HIV surveillance system.

Mental Health

In 2014, the government launched the National Mental Health Plan 2014–2018. The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor subsidizes the Mental Health Foundation (MHF), which is the sole provider for community-based mental health services on the island. Social insurance covers 80% of the population, providing total coverage for psychotropic medications. The other 20% is either not insured or has private insurance (16).(19). In 2012, diagnostic admissions were primarily for schizophrenia (45%) and mental and behavioral disorders due to psychoactive substance abuse (29%).

Disability

There were 3,843 persons (11.4% of the population) with disabilities in 2014. Visual impairments were the most common disability (2,370, accounting for 61.7% of disabilities), followed by multiple disabilities (1,112, 28.9%), physical disability (170, 4.4%), and intellectual/mental disability (61, 1.6%). Blindness was present in only 0.8%. The 2011 census measured the age distribution of disabilities: 81.8% of the population reported having no difficulties, ranging from 88.4% the 0–14-year age group to 53.8% among the age group 65 years old and older (see Table 4)

Habitats of Saint Martin

Based on

THE INCOMPLETE GUIDE TO THE WILDLIFE OF SAINT MARTIN, REVISED AND EXPANDED SECOND EDITION, BY MARK YOKOYAMA 2013

The greater St. Martin island is situated near the top of the Lesser Antilles. It is part of an arc of older islands made from submarine volcanoes capped in limestone. The island has low hills, and supports a variety of biotopes, including mangrove wetlands, thorny scrub, and some secondary broadleaf forest.St. Martin is a part of the Anguilla Bank, a group of islands that also includes Anguilla, St. Barths and the smaller nearby islets. These islands have an underwater foundation connectivity land mass during the ice ages when the sea level was lower, most recently about 12,000 years ago.

Habitats types are associated with a number of influences. As a smaller Caribbean island, the seasonal hurricanes and weather blow in moisture generally from the east. This creates different micro-climatic conditions, when coupled with the type of soil cover and base geologic substrate, yielding more moist to drier xeric conditions both on the western areas as well as on rain and dry sides of the hillsides. The fragile hillside volcanic soils are easily degraded when cleared of vegetation for agriculture (which was a long ago human activity) to today’s push of ever expanding hillside home and resort construction. In general, there are still many places were these habitats can be found across the island, but each is susceptible to human pressures. These habitats are described below.

MAJOR HABITATS

Though small, St. Martin has a varied landscape, providing a number of different habitats. These are discussed below.

Terrestrial Habitats

The types of vegetation that characterize St. Maarten have evolved due to the island’s terrain, distinct climate and years of human activity. St. Maarten has varied topography with large hills forming three main ridges in the centre and east, aligned in a north-south direction. Only the Lowlands in the west are flat. The coastline includes bays, lagoons, steep rocky coasts, and sandy beaches. Old plantations removed the natural habitat and today, the high population density and expanding tourism industry of St. Maarten continues to threaten terrestrial environments (Image Group 7). As a consequence, St. Maarten’s vegetation is almost entirely secondary or degraded.

The Nature Conservancy has produced a vegetation map of St. Maarten which can be used to assist the description of the habitats of the Island (Image 4). The majority of the areas on the Dutch side of St. Maarten that have not been developed consist of secondary vegetation, originating from either seasonal or dry evergreen vegetation communities. On a few of the slopes in the center of the island, dense secondary woodland vegetation is growing, preventing erosion. These two main vegetation types make up the largest habitat type represented by the light green area on Vegetation Map. Few patches of original Evergreen Seasonal Forest remain on the highest hilltops, making this special habitat vulnerable if further development is allowed to continue in the hills.

Thorny Scrub

Much of St. Martin is covered with thorny scrub, also be referred to as Shrubland, Scrubland, Scrub or Brush. This type of habitat covers much of the islands undeveloped land, from sea level to our hilltops. The vegetation is typically a mix of trees, shrubs and grasses, and usually quite dense. This type of habitat is common in relatively dry areas, and it may also occur temporarily during the natural process of reforesting land cleared by humans. Brush fires may also prevent scrub areas from developing into forests.

Acacias (Acacia sp.) and other thorny plants are very common in scrub. They may lose their leaves during dry periods to avoid losing moisture. Grasses may also die down to the roots for the same reason. Thorny scrub is a preferred habitat for many seed-eating birds, like the Lesser Antillean Bullfinch and Blackfaced Grassquit. The Anguilla Bank Anole is also common in these areas.

Savanna

The term savanna is thought to come from the Arawak term for grassland. It is similar to scrub, but is specifically used to describe areas that are primarily grasslands. On St. Martin, these are often areas used for pasture, where shrubs have been cleared by people or unable to grow because the young shoots are eaten by livestock. Savannas are ideal hunting ground for the American Kestrel. Well-grazed areas are often foraging and nesting grounds for Killdeer, because it allows them to see potential predators from a distance. Cattle Egrets also feed in these areas, often alongside grazing animals.

Dry Coastal Forest

This habitat is similar to scrub, but is dominated by small trees which form a canopy, shading the ground and limiting the amount of smaller plants that are able to grow. The undeveloped area between Cul-de-sac and Anse Marcel is the best remaining example of this type of forest on the island.

Dry Broadleaf Forest

Small areas of this type of forest are found primarily along ravines, particularly those running down from Pic Paradis toward Colombier and Rambaud. On St. Martin, these are probably secondary forests, meaning they have regrown after the land was cleared for sugarcane production in the 18th and 19th centuries. These areas are dominated by tall trees, which create a high canopy. Lack of light leaves the understory (the area beneath the canopy) relatively open. The ground is typically covered in a thick layer of leaf litter. The canopy also helps retain moisture in the understory, although it is still much drier than a rainforest. On St. Martin, large fruit trees, such as the Mango (Mangifera indica) are often part of our forest along with native tree species. This habitat supports treefrogs and preferred by the endemic Bearded Anole. Birds like the Pearly-eyed Thrasher and many migratory warblers overwinter in these forests. Many invertebrates, including the Striped Helicinid, the Forest Katydid, and the Leaf Tent Spider are common in this habitat.

Mangrove Wetlands

Mangrove wetlands are disbursed around ponds and lagoons. Three species of mangroves are found on the island, the Red Mangrove (Rhizophoria mangle), Black Mangrove (Avicennia germinans), and White Mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa). Also Buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus) is commonly associated with these habitats. Mangroves are a key nesting area for egrets, herons and other birds. They are also a favorite habitat of the introduced Green Iguana. Many terrestrial crab species are found in mangrove areas, and mangroves themselves are a host plant for a number of insects, including the Mangrove Buckeye.

The mangrove roots provide important protected nursery habitat for baby fish, spiny lobsters and a variety of other marine creatures. Anemones, oysters and other invertebrates may live attached to mangrove roots. Many of these animals are food for wading birds, herons and other animals.

Importantly, mangroves along the shore also protect the island from storms and high seas, providing a buffer between the land and the sea. Mangroves and the animals that live in their roots also trap nutrients that would otherwise flow out to sea, keeping the sea clear so corals are able to grow. They can even expand the land area, gradually trapping sediments and their own fallen leaves to produce soil.

Mudflats

Mudflats are found around many of the salt ponds, varying in size depending on the water level. The mud is rich in nutrients, providing food for a variety of mollusks, crustaceans and other invertebrates. These animals are the primary food source for most wading birds, as well as predatory insects like tiger beetles. Mudflats are also a common nesting ground for birds like the Black-necked Stilt and Killdeer.

Because they are salty and sometimes submerged, there is little vegetation on mudflats. Plant species found on and at the edges of mudflats include various salt-tolerant grasses, Shoreline Purslane (Sesuvium portulacastrum) and Glasswort (Salicornia ambigua). Caterpillars of the Obscure Skipper typically feed on salt-tolerant grasses.

Sandy Beaches

Sandy beaches are home to a number of plants that are especially adapted to sandy, salty conditions. Common examples include the Sea Grape (Coccoloba uvifera), Beach Morning Glory (Ipomoea pes-caprae) and Coconut Palm (Cocos nucifera). any nutrients also come from the sea, as bits of algae, sea grass and dead marine animals wash up on the beach. This provides food for Ghost Crabs, amphipods and insects. Much as on mudflats, these invertebrates are a food source for shorebirds. Sandy beaches provide nesting areas for sea turtles, and insects like the Crazy Beach Bee and Sand Wasp. The flowers and fruits of plants growing on the beach provide food for a variety of insects and birds.

Much as on mudflats, these invertebrates are a food source for shorebirds. Sandy beaches provide nesting areas for sea turtles, and insects like the Crazy Beach Bee and Sand Wasp. The flowers and fruits of plants growing on the beach provide food for a variety of insects and birds.

Cliffs and Rocky Shoreline

These areas may be inhospitable to many creatures, but they are an important resource to some. Cliffs offer some protection from predation, so they are an important nesting area for tropicbirds. Rocky shorelines, with their tide pools, are a rich source of food for birds like the American Oystercatcher and Laughing Gull. Crabs like the Sally Lightfoot Crab spend all their time on rocky shorelines near the water’s edge.

Caves

The basaltic formations from long ago volcanic eruptions and weathering have formed multiple caves throughout the island. Large amounts of nutrients from bat excrement provide essential feeding opportunities for many insects and fungus that grows on it. In turn, cave dwelling predators, like spiders feed on those insects. There are also parasitic flies from the family Streblidae who feed on bat blood and are generally only found on bats or in bat roosting areas like caves.

Freshwater Habitats

St. Martin has limited fresh water, but a variety of freshwater habitats, often small, can be found. Running water is available seasonally or after rains in the ravines running down our hills and in roadside drainage ditches. Wells and ponds made for livestock are other sources. Freshwater habitats can also be incredibly small, like the reservoirs of water that collect in the base of bromeliads. These freshwater resources provide drinking water for many animals, but they also serve as habitat for many aquatic animals. Freshwater fish like the Mountain Mullet are the most obvious, but many insects are also aquatic for some or all of their life, including dragonflies, mosquitoes and some beetles.

These freshwater resources provide drinking water for many animals, but they also serve as habitat for many aquatic animals. Freshwater fish like the Mountain Mullet are the most obvious, but many insects are also aquatic for some or all of their life, including dragonflies, mosquitoes and some beetles.

Offshore Rocks and Islets

These areas are typically ecologically similar to areas on St. Martin. Creole Rock is like a small chunk of rocky shoreline, and Pinel Island contains scrub, savanna and sandy beaches. They may play a unique role, however, due to their isolation. Offshore rocks like Pelican Key are popular breeding sites for seabirds, because they are relatively free of predators, a key feature for birds that nest on the ground. Lack of introduced predators like the mongoose has also allowed some reptile species to survive on islets in the Caribbean after they were extirpated from their main islands.

Critical habitats and conservation

None of the terrestrial environments of St. Maarten are protected, including biologically diverse rainforest, drought resistant habitats and lagoons. Conservation in St Maarten sits within the framework of a number of “ordinances” that provide legislation to: prevent the destruction of valuable flora and fauna (although there is no associated list of species considered valuable); prohibit construction above 200 m; and establish marine protected areas. The government has drafted, but not yet approved, new nature protection legislation (the Marine Park Ordinance).

There are a collection of organizations and agencies involved across the conservation sector of Sint Maarten (see table 1). A host of studies and external reports have addressed these issues over the past 15 years.

The most comprehensive attempt to update and implement practical measures to protect Sint Marteen’s ecological and cultural heritage is in the Sint Maarten Terrestrial Parks Management Plan. The Nature Foundation of Sint Maarten issued the Management Plan in 2009 to define the Vision, Mission and Goals of the St. Maarten Land Parks to protect the environment of the entire Dutch side of the island. The plan provides detailed background information about the status of the human and physical landscapes of St Maarten and identified the main values, issues and management strategies required to manage the proposed areas. The proposed St. Maarten Land Parks program identifies initiatives to protect the island’s indigenous terrestrial flora and fauna while allowing sustainable recreation. Overarching issues such as the lack of management of the catchment that drain into the marine environment and measures to integrate catchment and coastal management are discussed. The report provides critical insight for the future well-being of St. Maarten’s natural resources since activities on land directly affect the water around St. Maarten.

The mission of St. Maarten Land Parks is to manage, conserve and restore St. Maarten’s natural, cultural and historical resources for education, preservation and sustainable use with continued stakeholder participation, for the benefit of current and future generations. The proposed Protected Areas will help conserve and restore St. Maarten’s natural, cultural and historical resources for the benefit of current and future generations. St. Maarten and its habitats are a home, migratory stop over or breeding site for 10 IUCN Red List species, 9 CITES Appendix I species and 89 Appendix II species including the 2 endemic plants, the endemic Anguilla Bank Bush Anole (Anolis wattsi Pogus) and many other plants and animal species with limited distribution. St. Maarten Terrestrial Parks could attract visitors and contribute to income for many people on the island employed in restaurants, hotels and other services.

Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC) has conducted bird research and monitoring on the island (with a particular focus on wetlands and seabirds) for many years. Research has included pond water quality testing. The Nature Foundation of St Maarten has implemented a program of planting mangroves at Little Bay Pond International Bird Area- (AN001) and Fresh Pond International Bird Area- (AN002). Awareness of environmental issues is promoted by a number of local organizations and citizens understanding the conspicuous loss of natural areas and wildlife. However, the conservation concerns of the general public have not yet translated into government action.

The primary threat within St Maarten is the development of land and ancillary degradation and or destruction of ponds. Ponds and lagoons are routinely filled in and altered (e.g. Great Salt Pond IBA—AN003—is being used for landfill and filled to create parking) while building takes place on steep hillsides. Development permits are issued without thorough environmental impact assessments, despite public outcry, and permit restrictions are difficult to impose.

Without enforceable legislation, these destructive practices are likely to continue. Other threats include disturbance (which is significant due to the high concentration of residents and tourists) due to watercraft and introduced alien species. There is almost no control of exotic species introductions. Introduced predators include dogs, cats, rats, mice, raccoon Procyon lotor, mongoose Herpestes auropunctatus and green monkey Chlorocebus sabaeus. Groups of monkeys have been observed in the higher mountainous areas and could expand to lower elevations (as has happened on St Kitts).

Three areas have been identified as having special conservation value on St. Maarten, for the management planning process they have been given the collective name of ‘St. Maarten Land Parks’.

The Emilio Wilson Estate is located on the western side of the road that runs through Cul de Sac valley to St. Peter covering about 90ha from the road to the top of Sentry. The Estate covers land that had sugar plantations, including 9ha of land leased to the Emilio Wilson Estate Historical & Cultural Park Foundation and 80+ha of land to the summit of Sentry Hill.

Geneve/Back Bay is on the east coast of St. Maarten and is circled by hills running from Guana Bay Point in the north to Back bay in the south. The area covers approximately 100ha and has a number of different owners. It is one of the few places on St. Maarten where no construction has taken place and is home to a number of possible historical sites and geological formations.

The Hill Tops covers the hillside areas of Cole Bay Hill, Sentry Hill, St. Peters Hill, Concordia Hill, Marigot Hill, Waymouth Hill and Williams Hill. These area’s are in excess of the 200m height contour which has had some restrictions on building in the past.

Birds

Of the 164 bird species recorded from St Maarten, 39 species are resident (and breed) on the island, although the majority of species are Neotropical migrants (or vagrants). Five (of the 38) Lesser Antilles EBA restricted-range birds occur in St Maarten, none of which is endemic to the country. Three other restricted-range species—Bridled Quail-dove Geotrygon mystacea, Purple-throated Carib Eulampis jugularis and Scaly- breasted Thrasher Margarops fuscus—are found in the montane forests on the St Martin side of the border and probably occur. The country is important for waterbirds (in spite of the severe alteration and destruction of wetland habitats), with 50 species recorded (18 of which breed). This is partly due to the presence of two low-salinity ponds which are unique within the region

Important bird areas

St Maarten’s IBAs—the country’s international site priorities for bird conservation—cover 815 ha (including marine areas), and about c.36% of the country’s land area. Of the five IBAs, Pelikan Rock (AN005) is protected within the St Maarten Marine Park, and Fort Amsterdam (AN004) is protected as a historical site. The IBAs have been identified on the basis of eight key bird species (listed in Table 1) that variously trigger the IBA criteria. They are centered on wetland and marine sites being primarily significant for their populations four congregatory waterbird and seabird species (including the Near Threatened Caribbean Coot Fulica caribeae. However, shrublands in three IBAs support populations of the four restricted-range species known to occur in the country. With further targeted field research, three additional restricted- range birds that occur in the montane forest across the border in St Martin would be expected to be found in the semi- evergreen forest remnants on the St Maarten side. Such a discovery could warrant the identification of an additional IBA for these forest dependent species. The wetland IBAs of Little Bay Pond, Fresh Pond and Great Salt Pond all face similar, multiple threats such as land reclamation for development, inappropriate development, use for landfill, pollution and contamination from runoff and sewage, inappropriate water management (e.g. maintaining water levels by pumping in sea water), alien invasive predators and disturbance. The Nature Foundation of St Maarten and Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC) have variously planted mangroves, constructed bird observation towers and installed educational signage at Little Bay Pond and Fresh Pond IBAs, but it is clear that enforced legislation is critical if the biological integrity of these wetlands is to be maintained in the long term.

The protection afforded Fort Amsterdam (Historical Site) and Pelikan Rock (Marine Park) IBAs appears to be preventing site-based threats although factors outside of these areas are having negative impacts such as disturbance to the mainland pelican nesting colony from jet skis, dive boats, and parasail boats. Over-fishing, oil spills, and plastics entanglement are constant threats to the marine-based seabirds and waterbirds. The regular monitoring of the waterbirds at St Maarten’s IBAs (e.g. as has been undertaken by EPIC) and the monitoring of the other key bird species should be used to inform the assessment of state, pressure and response variables at each IBA in order to provide objective status assessments and inform management decisions (should the necessary legislation be enacted) that might be required to maintain these internationally important biodiversity sites.

Mullet Pond in Sint Maarten becomes the Netherlands’ 55th Ramsar Site

In 2016, The Kingdom of the Netherlands has designated Mullet Pond in Sint Maarten as its 55th Ramsar Site. Mullet Pond (Ramsar Site no. 2270) is a semi-enclosed area of permanent shallow marine waters within the Simpson Bay Lagoon. The Site holds some of the few intact sea-grass beds in the wider Lagoon as well as 70% of the mangrove forest remaining on Sint Maarten, the Dutch part of the Caribbean island of Saint Martin.

The mangroves and sea-grass beds act as a major nursery area and important habitat for juvenile fish species which develop in the lagoon before moving to local coral reef ecosystems including in the Man of War Shoal Marine Park. The nationally critically endangered buttonwood Conocarpus erectus is found on Mullet Pond. The Site is also the last remaining habitat in the wider Simpson Bay area for Anolis pogus, a species endemic to the island, and the last intact foraging grounds in the Lagoon for the globally endangered green turtle Chelonia Mydas.

The mangroves provide coastal protection during hurricanes and tropical storms, and help to cycle nutrients in the larger Simpson Bay area. As well as supporting the fish stocks which local fisheries depend on, the Site is also used for eco-tourism activities such as kayaking tours. The area is under continuing pressure from development, while other threats relate to dredging, recreational and tourism activities, storms and flooding and invasive alien species including the red lionfish Pterois volitans.

Man of War Shoal Marine Park,

The Nature Foundation manages the Man of War Shoal Marine Park, which was established December 31st of 2010. The designation of the marine protected area was a groundbreaking achievement for St. Maarten as it became the country’s first legally protected area. The Man of War Shoal Marine Park is now a sanctuary for whales, dolphins, numerous species of sharks, sea turtles, coral reefs and a wide array of fishes. It is also a breeding site for three IUCN Red List species, 10 CITES Appendix I species and 89 Appendix II species. Studies conducted by the Nature Foundation indicate high levels of biodiversity and particularly high coral reef coverage within the park. The conserved state of the Man of War Shoal increases the economic value of goods and services on St. Maarten with fifty million dollars annually.

Conservation

Pelikan Rock is state owned and managed by the Nature Foundation of St Maarten as part of the St Maarten Marine Park. Fishing, anchoring, the use of jet skis and ship traffic is prohibited within the marine park, although moorings have been installed and the area is popular for diving. Access to the islet itself is prohibited and human visitation is rare. There is no evidence of rodents or other predators on the islet. Threats to birds using the IBA are found primarily outside the IBA and include issues such as over-fishing, oil spills, and plastics entanglement. EPIC has conducted weekly or monthly population counts of P. occidentalis from the mainland every winter since 2001. A ground-truthing survey was conducted on the islet in June 2004.

Conservation and Development Issues

The proposed St. Maarten Land Parks face a range of legal, administrative, and development issues. As part of effective planning, these issues are accounted for below.

Historical Issues

Historical issues are pressures on, and threats to, the values of the proposed areas that have been identified in the past. No historical issues were raised during stakeholder consultations, since the Protected Area’s do not exist and a knowledge gap exists with regards to specific information about historical threats. Development and the construction of roads and houses was mentioned as a persistent threat that has a catastrophic impact on the values of the environment of St. Maarten.

Management Issues

Resources - Staff/finance

At present there are no allocated staff or funding resources for St. Maarten Land Parks. These are essential for an actively managed Protected Area.

Legislation

There is no enforced legislation offering protection to the terrestrial or marine environments of St. Maarten. Adoption of the St. Maarten Nature Ordinance is required to consolidate the hillside policy and designate protected areas on the island. Legislation relating to the import and export of flora and fauna also needs to be strengthened to protect St. Maarten’s natural resources.

Ownership

Other than the 9ha area of the EWE that is leased, none of the Land in this proposal is owned publicly or by one of the conservation organisations of the island. The land of Geneva Bay, The Hilltops and the EWE are privately owned and the private owners may seek to profit from the land by selling the land for residential or commercial development. The Rainforest Zip line a “eco-tourism” attraction was built several years ago without submission nor approval of an ESIA.

Institutional organization

A number of groups on the island have an interest in the EWE, and some also have an interest in the proposed other Parks of St. Maarten. Without a clear mandate for each organization, and a clear co- management structure, Nature Foundation St. Maarten risks investing scarce resources in an unsustainable Protected Area development project.

Stakeholder Engagement

There is little awareness amongst the population about the value of the proposed areas for St. Maarten Land Parks. Information, education and outreach is very limited about the terrestrial environment resulting in a lack of a sense of ownership, support for management, involvement in decision-making and partnership building.

Climate Change And Natural Disasters

Climate change will increase biodiversity loss, affecting both individual species and their habitats. Vegetation zones are typically expected to move towards higher latitudes or higher altitudes following shifts in average temperatures. The vulnerability of an ecosystem to climate change depends on its species’ tolerance of change, the degree of change, and the other stresses already affecting it. For example, where land is cleared for development, increased temperatures and changes in rainfall may prevent plants from growing back, resulting in increased erosion and all the associated problems. In addition, disturbances such as fires, floods and insect plagues are expected to become more frequent as conditions change. The table below summarises the likely effects of climate change on St. Maarten and its habitats.

Infrastructure and Population centers

Below you can find a map with the main infrastructures in Sint Maarten. Zoom in to see a more detailed information about the different facilities available.

Main entry ports

The main ports of Sint Maarten include the Airport and the Seaport (harbor) which are the key regional and global interconnection links for the island. These ports are also key nodes for local economic development since most products require importation onto the island.

Airport

The Princess Juliana International Airport plays a crucial role in Sint Maarten’s accessibility. The number of passengers that pass through the airport (arriving and departing) annually is approximately 1.7 million. This is projected to increase to 2 million in 10 years and to as many as 2.3 million in 20 years. As such the PJIA is a significant contributor to the economy and economic development of Sint Maarten. The PJIA plays an important role in maintaining the competitive advantage of Sint Maarten within the tourism industry as well as the position of Sint Maarten as a transportation and transit hub for the region. There are a number of limiting factors regarding optimal efficiency of the airport operations. For example, current plane traffic capacity is limited because the runway must also be used for taxiing, and there is too little space to station airplanes especially during high season.

The airport has a master plan to meet the projected increase in passenger and cargo traffic. According to the Master Plan (Source: Master Plan Update PJIA Sint Maarten, NACO, November 2012) a key requirement is land reclamation in the Simpson Bay Lagoon to the north-east of the runway for:

• part of the new taxiway;
• the apron (parking space for airplanes);
• airport-related businesses

A second land reclamation in the Simpson Bay Lagoon to the north-east of the existing terminal is envisioned to make space for:

• commercial facilities (convention center);
• expansion of the terminal;
• a parking garage/expansion of the parking area;
• expansion of the apron;
• construction of a helipad for three helicopters, to the north of Simpson Bay Village;
• Construction of a marina, for the target group of private planes.

The land reclamation north east of the runway will result in safer and more efficient operations of the Airport with completion of the new taxiway. The 2nd proposed land reclamation will change the shoreline of the lagoon drastically. The impact of the proposed land reclamation on the ecosystem, water quality and other possible (adverse) environmental effects is still to be assessed. It should also be noted that the part of the land reclamation required for private aviation is also very seasonal.

Harbor

The Dr. A. C. Wathey Cruise & Cargo Facility (harbor), is also of vital importance to the tourism sector of Sint Maarten. The cruise facilities consist of a 545m. pier which can accommodate 4 ships and a second pier 445m. St. Maarten is now one of the few ports able to accommodate the world’s largest cruise ships – the Genesis- class vessels.

In the high season sometimes seven cruise ships per day can call at Sint Maarten, each of which brings 3000 to 4000 tourists to the island for the day. In 2013 a milestone was reached when 1.7 million cruise passengers arrived with higher numbers predicted for the coming years.

Another important element of the harbor is the cargo and transshipment component. The cargo sector is important for the import of consumer goods, but also in terms of economic revenue. Each year the port handles about 75,000 twenty-foot container equivalent units. The port also acts as a feeder port for many of the smaller islands nearby. Despite the continuing growth, no major developments are foreseen with respect to the actual port facilities (cruise and cargo).

A westward expansion of the breakwater to protect the container yard is planned and the extension of the second pier is still under consideration. Plans for improvements in vicinity of the port, in particular the waterfront between the Cruise terminal and the centre of Philipsburg. Currently, many cruise tourists walk from the cruise ships to Philipsburg on a small footpath alongside the congested Juancho Yrausquin Blvd. Currently plans for a mixed use development of this area are in preparation and include among others a 150 room 4 star brand name hotel including amenities, an aquarium, completion of the boardwalk, retail, and mega yacht slips. A new zip-line has already been opened.

Industrial functions, Utilities and Commercial Development

In Sint Maarten the crucial industries include: production of energy and drinking water (see sections 2 on energy and desalinization plant), storage and supply of petroleum products, waste management (see section 2 on waste management) and the production of building materials such as asphalt and concrete. These operations generate adverse environmental effects such as noise pollution, air pollution and heavy traffic. Therefore, given the small size of Sint Maarten and the relatively high population density that results in limited available space, many believe that it makes little sense to develop export- oriented heavy industries, because the negative effects on the nature, landscape, tourism sector and residential areas. The need for adequate space to cater to nature and social needs outweigh the potential economic benefits of export oriented heavy industry, in particular considering the highly mixed land-use and limited amount of available space on Sint Maarten.

The (re) location and clustering of heavy industries has been a point of discussion in Sint Maarten for many years, with the aim to concentrate such nuisance generating activities in one area. In 1998 a pre- feasibility study for a land reclamation in Cay Bay for the relocation of heavy industries was conducted (Civil Engineering Caribbean et al., 1998). The land reclamation and reallocation has not yet materialized for various reasons. More recently TU Delft et al. (2008) stated that Cole Bay sea-shore area should be developed into a larger harbor and depot area. The potential for such a development may still be further investigated, however the cost- benefit justification needs to indicate that such is feasible. It is uncertain if such a development will be feasible within the time- horizon of the Spatial Development Strategy (10 years).

Energy cluster

The Cay Bay area literally delivers the energy for Sint Maarten. This area is in principle a logical location for an ‘energy cluster’ since the (Cole) bay is relatively sheltered, deep enough for the mooring of tanker ships, and noise, dust and odors will be carried away offshore most of the time due to the prevailing wind direction (Civil Engineering Caribbean et al., 1998). The GEBE power plant and fuel supply (oil terminals) are located in this area since the 1960’s. Fuel supply on Sint Maarten is currently in the hands of the companies SOL (former Shell) and GB Group (former Texaco). They serve the domestic market and supply fuel for GEBE’s power plant, service stations, marinas, aviation fuel for the airport and cooking gas. No export initiatives are envisioned.

The current situation whereby houses and heavy industry are situated very close to each other presents several concerns. Several houses, most of them packed together on small lots and often built without permission, literally border the power plant and the oil terminals. Noise and air pollution are a health risk for the people living close to the power plant. External safety is a great concern for the entire Cole Bay sea- shore industrial development area. In the event of a disaster numerous people are vulnerable for instance if there is an explosion at one of the oil terminals, or if a fire breaks out in the adjacent shanty town. Furthermore, the relatively narrow Cape Bay road is not designed for the heavy traffic (tanker trucks) that use these routes to transport fuel to the GEBE plant. Overhead pipes crossing the public road connecting the one side of the GEBE premises with the other are also a potential hazard risk.

There is limited space for future expansion of these facilities and the need to maintain some kind of ‘safety-zone’ between industry and residential functions makes this situation precarious. If greater expansion is needed in this area in the future study must take place to look into the other options.

The risks associated with sea level rise and potential tsunamis as a result of Climate Change remain a great concern. Preventive measures need to be implemented to avoid interruption of these critically important services. A set of proposals are in various stages of development. One is the creation of a buffer zone between the heavy industry and the residential area. Another is building a new main road (Link 1, phase 3) to be constructed through Cay Bay and the Cole Bay industrial area.

Building (material) cluster

The building material sector is also a significant contributor to the Sint Maarten economy, given the construction boom that the island has experienced. The construction industry remains a stable contributor to the economy, offering significant employment opportunities. Companies producing building materials such as concrete and asphalt and the storage of materials (heavy equipment) are typically located in the Over the Pond and Sucker Garden areas. An asphalt plant and concrete plant are necessary in order to provide the local civil works and building companies with relatively affordable building materials. Additional capacity for large scale projects could be obtained from French Saint Martin or through temporary measures, such as mobile asphalt plants.

Several attempts were made to regulate the development in the Over the Pond and Sucker Garden areas, such as the Draft Development Plan “Over the Pond East” (ICE, 1999) that unfortunately has never fully materialized. Contrary to this, the area has developed in a relatively uncontrolled manner. This resulted in (sometimes illegal) land reclamation, poor access, inefficient subdivision, and cluttering of the landscape. Furthermore the (illegal) filling led to stagnation of adequate storm-water drainage. Rainwater gutters from the hillier terrain north traverse the area. Furthermore there are some scattered industrial activities such as the production of concrete blocks and storage of heavy equipment in the adjacent primarily residential neighborhoods where they cause significant nuisance.

Waste cluster

The landfill is currently located at Pond Island in close proximity to Philipsburg. The landfill is being used as disposal area for all household and commercial waste. The waste is deposited and compacted with layers of soil. There is hardly any processing of waste material (sorting, treatment, or recycling).

The presence of the landfill, in particular at this location, is highly undesirable for several reasons. First of all the highly visible landfill in vicinity to the capital Philipsburg is a major eyesore. There are also nuisance problems (such as, dust, odor, noise pollution) and recurring fires at the landfill cause severe odor and air quality problems. Landfills may also result in the harboring of disease vectors such as rats and flies. Furthermore, the landfill is not being used as a viable and abundant source of residuals for recycling purposes. Finally, the allocated space for the landfill has breached the planned maximum capacity and there are no apparently feasible alternative locations for a sanitary landfill.

Commercial and light industrial activities

Apart from the three industrial clusters described in the previous paragraphs there are also light industrial areas, commercial nodes and scattered small commercial activities, in particular along the main roads. Small and medium businesses have historically comprised the major employment opportunities, and as such have been collectively major contributors to the economy. The economy has been supported by the entrepreneurial spirit, which therefore should be encouraged and facilitated as much as possible.

Public facilities

From a spatial point of view, the plans for the future development of schools, community centers, sport- and recreational parks and cemeteries are critical for well-functioning communities. These topics will be further described below.

Schools

Secondary schools are mainly clustered in the Cul–de-Sac area which has only one access road (L.B. Scott Road). This challenge has been recognized since the turn of the century and there have been numerous proposals to construct new schools in other areas. This concentration of schools adds significantly to the daily congestion in this already quite densely populated neighborhood. This will only partially be solved with the execution of an alternate access road, such as Link 6 (see paragraph 3.1.1) and/or other alternative roads to/from the area.

Although only a moderate growth is expected in the student population during the subject period of the Spatial Development Strategy, there is a need for planned development of new schools, community centers and multi-purpose play areas in the districts to facilitate:

• the further promulgation of the Community School model (Integrated Youth Policy, 2006), providing opportunities for the further development of schools, recreational and sporting facilities;
• relocation of aging school buildings to accommodate the decongestion within the Cul-de-Sac area, as well reconsidering the aging school buildings in the congested Philipsburg area;
• limited expansion of the existing school buildings.

To achieve this, new (primary and secondary) school locations are to be projected within all major districts, allowing for the possibility for the establishment of new schools, recreational and sporting facilities as the need arises (Ministry of ECYS, 2014). Due to the scarcity of land and limited means it is recommended that some of the remaining government land is earmarked for the development of schools, recreational and larger sporting facilities.

Because there is limited government land available privately owned land will have to be acquired or reserved as well, in order to be able to construct schools and related community facilities in other districts. Potential possible locations include the Welgelegen area in the Little Bay district and the Bethlehem and Union Farm areas in the Lower Prince’s Quarter.

Sports and recreation

Sint Maarten has larger sports facilities including the Jose Lake Ball Park in Cul-de-Sac, the multipurpose Raoul Illidge Sports Complex in Cay Hill and the Little League Stadium on Pond Island. Furthermore, there are several indoor facilities and smaller facilities such as the Melford Hazel facilities in FOGA and the Philipsburg Sports Auditorium. There are also various sports facilities (indoor and outdoor courts) connected with schools in various districts which are utilized by neighborhood residents.

The respective zoning plans call for the expansion of the sports facility on Pond Island towards the north of the Little League Stadium. This area could be developed to include for instance for a soccer or cricket stadium. There is also a private initiative for the development of a cricket stadium in the Bethlehem area, which can be facilitated in terms of zoning in the respective development plan. There is a demand for more recreational areas in the different neighborhoods.

The beaches of Sint Maarten have always been important recreational areas for locals. The beaches are visited especially on weekends and on holidays for relaxation. Of course, visitors to the island have always been attracted to the beaches. Over the years, development has resulted in many beach areas being restricted, thereby preventing access to the beaches by the general public. While all beaches in Sint Maarten are public, with the exception of a few beaches, such as Great Bay and Mullet Bay, access to the beaches is difficult for the general public, often through physical and psychological barriers imposed by beach front property owners.

In addition, as a result of Climate Change, affecting weather patterns causing sea level rise, many of the beaches have suffered because of beach sand erosion and altered size. This is compounded by the construction of boundary walls and other structures by private property owners, that exacerbate beach erosion. A proactive approach towards the management of the beaches is necessary, where strict prevention of construction and other activities is in place, as well as the management of the sand balance, to minimize the erosion and loss of the beaches for recreation.

Village Centers

Population centers on Sint Maarten consist of the capital Phillipsburg, Simpson Bay village and a number of hamlets that have developed into larger neighborhoods. These hamlets initially consisted of a few houses along the main roads. With rapid population growth these neighborhoods have expanded in size and concentration to such a degree that the respective neighborhoods are currently not easily distinguishable in a spatial sense. These areas consist of many haphazard side streets of varying lot sizes and quality of households. Local shops and business activities are dispersed along the main road. One of the less favorable consequences of this unplanned expansion is that there is no ‘village center’; no central place where neighborhood residents can come together in the communities. In recent years many areas have begun to form community councils and associations of residents to collectively champion interests of communities and the need for community centers.