The Caribbean
Island of Saint Martin
Saint Martin is a tropical island in the northeast
Caribbean, approximately 300 km (186 miles) east of Puerto
Rico. The smallest inhabited sea island divided between two
nations, divided roughly between France (53km2) and the
Netherlands Antilles (34km2) making the islands size a total of
(87km2). The southern half holds the Eilandgebied Sint
Maarten
HISTORY
In 1493, Christopher Columbus embarked on his second voyage to
the New World. According to legend, Columbus sighted and
perhaps anchored at the island of Saint Martin on November 11,
1493, the feast day of Saint Martin of Tours. In his honor,
Columbus named the island San Martin. This name was translated
to Sint Maarten (Dutch), Saint Martin (French and English).
When Columbus sailed these seas, St. Martin was populated, if
populated at all, by Carib Amerindians. The former Arawaks had
been chased by the Caribs coming from the North coast of South
America a short time before the arrival of the Spaniards who
followed in Columbus' wake. The English word cannibal is
derived from the Spanish pronunciation for Carib. The Arawaks
were agricultural people who fashioned pottery and whose social
organization was headed by hereditary chieftains who derived
their power from personal deities called zemis.
The Caribs' territory was not completely conquered until the
mid-17th century when most of them perished in the struggle
between the French, English, Dutch, Danes and Spanish for
control of the West Indies. The Dutch first began to ply the
island's ponds for salt in the 1620s. Despite the Dutch
presence on the island, the Spaniards recaptured St. Martin in
1633 and, one year later, built a fort (now Ft. Amsterdam) and
another artillery battery at Pointe Blanche to assert their
claim and control access to Great bay salt pond. The Spaniards
introduced the first African slaves to the area in the 16th
century but the main influx of African slaves took place in the
18th century with the development of Sugarcane plantations by
the French Protestants and some Dutch Jews. Slavery was
abolished in the first half of the 19th century, whereupon on
some of their territories the British imported Chinese and East
Indians to take the place of slaves. Thus, St. Martin and the
other islands are populated by a mixture of Amerindian,
European, African, Indians and Asian peoples. West Indian
cultures such as in St. Martin are, consequently, exceedingly
rich and varied.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org
Boat
trips
There are plenty of full or half day boat trips available on
the island. Try a day trip to one of the neighboring islands
and hideaways. Voyager goes daily to St. Barths from Marigot or
Oyster Pond. No departure tax!
The lower priced Rapid Explorer leaves from
Bobby's Marina (Philipsburg) to St. Barth's. Please, keep in
mind that departure taxes apply, which brings the rates at
par.
Various Day charter companies provide services,
either from the Marigot Marina Royale, from Anse Marcel or from
Great Bay in Philipsburg. Another exciting trip is guaranteed
on the popular catamaran Scoobidoo (Oyster Pond)
Go
Kart
Scheduled to open in May, the Go Kart site is in its final
stage to open doors soon, at some point in June 2009! The site
offers a great introduction to the world of motorsport for
enthusiastic youngsters (and adults alike!). A place to go for
a fun gocart racing day with family and friends, or for your
next kid's birthday party ! Located in La Savane on the main
road to Grand Case, right behind the Gess gas station.
PAINTBALL
Since May 2009, you can go out on an action packed day at the
Paintball site on St. Martin! Located on the road to Orient
Bay, next to the Cadisco gas station. The site makes full use
of the space provided and it is littered with barricades, old
trucks and cars that you will need to use to your advantage
during the adrelanie intensive venue! Open Saturdays + Sundays
from 9am to 5pm. Admission: 20 €uros including equipment (vest,
helmet, gun). Bullets charged separately. Minimum age: 12yr.
Bring good shoes and well protecting cloths (long sleeves, long
pants!)
Surfing and
Body Boarding
Winter waves reach the North and West coasts of St Maarten/St
Martin from November through March. The East coast comes alive
with the passing of tropical systems from July through
November. Some of the most popular surf spots include Guana
Bay, Le Galion, Mullet Bay and Orient Bay. Board rentals are
available at Le Galion beach and Orient Bay,
Windsurfing
Windsurfing with the gentle trade winds on St Martin is a
treat! Season starts in winter with the so called "Christmas
Winds". Otherwise, Southern trade winds provide consistent
conditions averaging 15 knots until July. Intermediates and
advanced wind surfers should definitely go to Orient Bay
despite its frequent choppy conditions as the bay is facing the
windward Atlantic coast. The possibilities are endless here:
flat water sailing; swell and chop sailing between Green Cay
and Pinel Island; speed runs to Pinel from Club Orient; or wave
sailing in the reef at Green Cay. Another great place for Wind
surfers, beginners and intermediates, is Le Galion Beach.
Getting
Married in St. Martin
You need to spend a month on the French side of St Martin to
get married,
Because of this most couples choose to get married on the Dutch
side of the island in St Maarten. Here are the requirements for
St Maarten:
1. Foreign couples planning on getting married on St.
Maarten without the consent of parents must be at least 21
years of age, persons with a Netherlands nationality should be
23 years of age.
2. Foreign couples must request permission from the Lt Governor
of the Island Territory of St Maarten to marry (see address
below). Please note that it can take up to two months to
receive a reply, and you need to be on island two days before
your ceremony. if permission is granted a temporary tourist
permit will be issued in order to contract a marriage.
3.Registration at the office of Civil Registry needs to take
place at least ten days before the marriage. This can be done
by faxing their office at the address below
4. Divorced persons may remarry in St Maarten but should
provide a recent extract of divorce of this current year.
Divorced women, can only remarry after 306 days upon
inscription into the registry of divorce at the office of Civil
State.
Documents
Required
* A full abridged birth
certificate to prove the legality of the same.
* In the event persons are not of Dutch nationality, a valid
passport is required
* Address of both parties
* Duration of stay on St. Maarten
* Unmarried persons must present a declaration of marital
status not older than 3 months
* If widow(er), a death certificate
* If divorced, a divorce certificate or a final judgment
decree
* For minors (under 21 years of age), permission of the parents
is required;
* Names of parents, maiden names of mother including place of
birth and birth date;
* Professions of the bride, the groom and the parents
* 6 (six) witness if the marriage is performed outside of the
Marriage Hall, 2 witnesses if it is to be performed at Wedding
Hall. Non-Dutch witnesses must present a valid passport or a
birth certificate with a picture I.D.
Original documents other than Dutch or English need to be
translated into the Dutch language (i.e. a French or Spanish
document must be translated into Dutch, not English). The
following person can do translations on the island: Cheryl
LaBega, Language translator, Government Administration
Building, Clern LaBega's Square, Philipsburg, St Maarten. Pleas
not that one to two weeks is required for translation.
Fees
The cost for contracting foreign marriages is US$275.55 and
includes civil ceremony, marriage books, stamps and
certificates.
Registrars Offices
The registrar's office should be contacted for specific
rules regarding planning your destination or beach wedding in
St Martin. They will also provide information regarding
marriage licenses and marriage certificates.
Chief Registrar
Office of Civil Registry and Census Office
Soualiga Road
Philipsburg, St. Maarten
Tel: 599 542 2457
Fax: 599 542 4267
Lt Governor Franklyn Richards
Government Administration Building
Clem Labega's Square
PO Box 943
Philipsburg,
St Maarten
Fax: 599 542 4884
{Credit} http://www.islandbrides.com/
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