The Dutch country part island of Sint Maarten and the French Collectivite part Island of Saint Martin are a two-part island separated by a border.
The Country of Dutch Sint Maarten forms part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, while the Collectivite of French Saint Martin is actually a municipality of France.
The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs is situated in Paris under the responsibility of the French Minister of Foreign Affairs in France while the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs is situated in The Hague under the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, with a Foreign Affairs Department operating in Philipsburg under the responsibility of the Prime Minister of Sint Maarten handling specific foreign affairs matters relating to the Dutch Caribbean country of Sint Maarten.
The Prime Minister of Sint Maarten still has to answer and give account to the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs. And, of course, from time to time the Prime Minister of Sint Maarten can be empowered by the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs as it relates specifically to foreign affairs matters in country Sint Maarten, being a part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The above being a simplified introduction as to this border matter taking place on Sint Maarten/Saint Martin, for which a decision has been rendered ultimately between Paris and The Hague; Marigot being represented by Paris, while Philipsburg functioned as party intermediary to The Hague, by way of the Prime Minister of Sint Maarten, being responsible as a Dutch dependent for foreign affairs locally.
There exist Four Access Borders between Sint Maarten/Saint Martin.
1. The Dutch-side Lowlands/Cupecoy area, with bordering access through the French Lowlands Area.
2. The Dutch-side Cole Bay Fleming property/Diamond Hill and Dutch Simpson Bay Lagoon, with bordering access through the Bellevue Fleming property to the French capital of Marigot.
3. The Dutch-side Belvedere/Nazareth Area and Dutch Quarter, with bordering access through Orleans, French Quarter.
4. The Dutch-side Oyster Pond and Dutch Oyster Pond Lagoon and Oyster Bay Hotel area, bordering with French Oyster Pond, specifically in the well-known Captain Oliver Hotel and lagoon area.
And this specific area mentioned under Point 4 is where the Dutch/French border dispute and contention have been lingering for decades.
There can be so many reasons for border disputes, but the one that would make the most logical sense would be the border access mentioned under Point 4, for the very simple reasons that,
a) The famous Captain Oliver Hotel could be in actuality only French accessed by way of road, while although being situated on this lagoon, its water access permission by way of a marina would have always had to be sought by way of the Dutch Sint Maarten government in Philipsburg.
b) This also meaning as well that boating lagoon access from the Atlantic Ocean has always had to be by way of Dutch territory waters.
c) With its additional handicap being that all water rights were granted by the Dutch Sint Maarten government, which in turn collected all water rights revenues over the many decades.
And all of the above-mentioned are facts.
This decision taken between both country authorities has been very long in the making. And the reality is that on the French-side borders of this lagoon, the French were always at an economic disadvantage, while the Dutch enjoyed full authority of the water rights of this lagoon, as well as access from the Atlantic Ocean.
My personal assumptions can be of an economic revenues-making future development planning perspective.
This Atlantic Ocean/lagoon access can possibly make access for motor vessels berthing from the now-agreed-upon French waters of this Oyster Pond Lagoon, giving the French government development authority and power having these water rights.
Is this great vision or not?
Can this attract yachts and/or mega-yachts and a small tourist cruise liner?
What would this mean in terms of investment expansions for the famous Captain Oliver Hotel and Marina area?
I am not really getting into the possible investment economic revenues agreements that can be and already may have been made regarding the other borders 1, 2, and 3.
Just my simple personal food for thought!
Achken Roberto Richardson-IAM
