ST MAARTEN — After nine years of tireless and relentless work, Team St. Maarten brought home a firm, irrevocable date for country status: October 10, 2010. Leader of Government Constitutional Affairs Commissioner William Marlin commended the team – in particular the advisors – who have poured countless hours into the struggle to break from the Netherlands Antilles and become a country within the Dutch Kingdom.

The date 10-10-10 was signed off on by the Dutch Government, Central Government and Island Governments of St. Maarten and Curaçao last Wednesday night in the World Trade Center in Curaçao. The Antilles of five islands will cease to exist on this date, and in its place, two new countries St. Maarten and Curaçao will emerge, along with three public entities of the Netherlands: Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba. This is the first time in the process of dismantling the Antilles, started by St. Maarten’s referendum on June 23, 2000, that a firm date has been set. In the past there were several target dates but nothing to which the Dutch Government had affixed a signature.

Marlin, Finance Commissioner Xavier Blackman and opposition Democratic Party leader Island Councilwoman Sarah Wescot-Williams commended the island’s smart and fierce group of advisors, who had found solutions in the face of many road blocks. Team St. Maarten has long been the banner under which government and opposition, armed with advisors, have waged the battle to get the status the people voted for in the June 2000 referendum.

Just off the airport from Curaçao at midday Thursday, Marlin singled out Project Director for Constitutional Affairs Dennis Richardson for always finding a solution to every barrier, even if this meant few hours of sleep.

Wednesday’s Kingdom Political Steering Group meeting was very gruelling, but as the day wore on, and with “some give and take,” the team returned home with a signed agreement with a date for country status, Marlin said.

This is not the end of the road, because there is still a lot more to be done, the commissioner told the press in the Soualiga Business Lounge of Princess Juliana International Airport. Now is when the country has to emerge by taking up decentralised responsibilities and improving its infrastructure to better serve its people, he added.

This date for country status is not without conditions. Another Kingdom Steering Group meeting is planned for December in St. Maarten, to iron out the details of the Wednesday agreement. Chief among these is the progress committee that will be put in place to vet the readiness of the islands to assume the role of Country within the Kingdom.

Commissioner Blackman was equally full of praise for the dedication and hard work of the team. He pressed that the setting of 10-10-10 had been significant, and should not be tainted by talk of compromise, because this had been a joint decision of all partners. This message was reinforced by Dutch State Secretary for Kingdom Relations Ank Bijleveld-Schouten, Antillean Prime Minister Emily de Jongh-Elhage, Curaçao Constitutional Affairs Commissioner Zita Jesus-Leito and Marlin.

Blackman added that Wednesday’s agreement also served to hasten the preparation of the necessary infrastructure for St. Maarten to receive tasks from the Central Government, and with this the personnel and budgeted amounts to carry out the work.

He also said there was still a lot of work to be done but added that “a lot of doors to go back [wards] have been closed [in the constitutional process].”

Wescot-Williams said the pinning down of 10-10-10 was “another definite step in the transition from Island Territory to Country [within the Dutch Kingdom].” This was the result of nine years of bittersweet battles, but the goal had been accomplished by the “small but dedicated” team of St. Maarten. (See related story)

Head of the team of advisors and former Constitutional Affairs Minister Richard Gibson said it was a “great pleasure” to witness the signing of the agreement that would bring an end to the “fiction” of the Netherlands Antilles that had been “an iron ball” on the feet of progress, for St. Maarten in particular.

Using the old emancipation cry, “free at last, free at last, free at last,” a very fiery Gibson said all doubters of the constitutional change process could now be quiet, but added that there was still a lot more to be accomplished to be ready as a country, come 10-10-10. “The work really starts now.”

Gibson is now charged with getting the Justice System and Police Force ready for Country St. Maarten. Justice is one of the areas which may end up under supervision, should the necessary organisation not be in place in time for October 10. He said work was progressing in this area to ensure the safety of the island’s residents, and to see to it that the force was not left empty-handed in the face of crime.

Dennis Richardson thanked the team for its hard work and commended the political leadership, present and past, for having stood tall and for having given the advisors the opportunity to steer the technical aspects of the dismantling. With teamwork, the end of a country had been realised without bloodshed or a single shot being fired, he noted

For an island with a big reputation for restaurants, hotels, and energetic nightlife, St. Maarten is small — only 96 sq. km (37 sq. miles), about half the area of Washington, D.C. An island divided between the Netherlands and France, St. Maarten (Sint Maarten) is the Dutch half, and St. Martin is French. Legend has it that a gin-drinking Dutchman and a wine-guzzling Frenchman walked around the island to see how much territory each could earmark for his country in a day; the Frenchman walked farther, but the canny Dutchman got the more valuable piece of property.

The divided island is the smallest territory in the world shared by two sovereign states. The only way you’ll know you’re crossing an international border is when you see the sign BIENVENUE PARTIE FRANCAISE, attesting to the peaceful coexistence between the two nations. The island was officially split in 1648, and many visitors still ascend Mount Concordia, near the border, where the agreement was reached. Even so, St. Maarten changed hands 16 times before it became permanently Dutch.

Returning visitors who haven’t been to the island for a while are often shocked when they see today’s St. Maarten. No longer a sleepy Caribbean backwater, now it’s a boomtown. Duty-free shopping has turned the island into a virtual mall, and the Dutch capital, Philipsburg, is often bustling with cruise-ship hordes.

Although the island’s 39 white-sand beaches remain unspoiled, much has been lost to the bulldozer on St. Maarten. This is not a place for people who don’t like crowds, so if you want to get away from it all, head to the nearby Dutch islands of St. Eustatius (Statia) and Saba, or choose another getaway, such as the British Virgin Islands. Even the French side of the island would suit you better. Nevertheless, despite problems like crime, occasional storms, traffic congestion, and corruption, St. Maarten continues to attract massive numbers of visitors who want a Caribbean island vacation with a splash of Las Vegas.

The Dutch capital, Philipsburg, curves like a toy village along Great Bay. The town lies on a narrow sand isthmus separating Great Bay and the Great Salt Pond. Commander John Philips, a Scot in Dutch employ, founded the capital in 1763. To protect Great Bay, Fort Amsterdam was built in 1737.

The French side of the island has a slightly different character. It’s been undergoing a building boom of late, with lots of new hotels opening, but for now at least, it’s still sleepier than the Dutch side. Most hotels tend to be quieter and more secluded than their Dutch counterparts, and you won’t be overwhelmed with cruise-ship crowds. There are no dazzling sights, and there’s no spectacular nightlife. Even the sports scene on St. Martin isn’t as well organized as on many Caribbean islands (though the Dutch side has golf and other diversions). Most people come to St. Martin to relax on its many white-sand beaches and to experience “France in the Tropics.”

French St. Martin has a distinctly French air. Police officers, for example, wear képis. The towns have names like Colombier and Orléans, the streets are rues, and the French flag flies over the gendarmerie in Marigot, the capital. It also has some of the best cuisine in the Caribbean, with an extraordinary number of good bistros and restaurants. Advocates cite French St. Martin as distinctly more sophisticated, prosperous, stylish, and cosmopolitan than its neighboring départements d’outre-mer, Guadeloupe and Martinique.

French St. Martin is governed from Guadeloupe and has direct representation in the government in Paris. The principal town on the French side is Marigot, the seat of the subprefect and municipal council.

Marigot is not quite the same size as its counterpart, Philipsburg, in the Dutch sector. It has none of the frenzied pace of Philipsburg, which is often overrun with cruise-ship passengers. In fact, Marigot looks like a French village transplanted to the Caribbean. If you climb the hill over this tiny port, you’ll be rewarded with a view from the old fort.

About 20 minutes by car beyond Marigot is Grand-Case, a small fishing village that’s an outpost of French civilization, with many good restaurants and a few places to stay.

PHILIPSBURG–Powerful Category 4 Hurricane Bill passed more than 300 miles Northeast of St. Maarten late last night through early this morning, but its winds were powerful enough to cause moments of anxiety in Philipsburg.

While, generally, residents had breathed a collective sigh of relief earlier in the day as Bill finally made its turn towards the Northwest and away from the island, by 8:30pm, coinciding with a brief but heavy downpour, high sea swells started to have devastating effects along some sections of the coastline.

This was especially noticeable in the Philipsburg area at Foot of Town and along the Great Bay beach promenade (the boardwalk) where heavy-duty equipment had to be used to dump sand to prevent sea water from flowing onto Front Street.

About half of the open beach-front lot adjacent to Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resort, which is often used as a parking area or for picnics, was flooded and water from the sea was seen gushing into the nearby canal and flowing into Fresh Pond.

In their bid to stop water from flowing onto Front Street, an emergency crew used heavy equipment to dump sand at the beach-side entrances to Armenhuissteeg and Sisalsteeg, both of which were flooded.

The island did not record any long periods of sustained heavy winds as the storm passed at a distance far enough to keep the island outside of its tropical storm force winds. However, high sea swells were recorded in Cay Bay, Pelican, Great Bay, Mullet Bay, the Northern half of the island and other areas throughout most of the day.

As was expected, the heavy swells dumped a lot of sand in places such as Beacon Hill Road and along the promenade, including in the vicinity of Captain Hodge Wharf.

Utility company GEBE did not report any problems with seaweed or high waves during the course of the day and an assessment is expected to be made today of the power plant facility.

Eight divers were involved in a mishap at sea during the day which was believed to have been related to the deteriorating sea conditions associated with the passing of the storm.

At 11:00pm Wednesday, as Hurricane Bill continued to move Northwest and passed Northeast of the local islands, its centre was located near 20.7 degrees North and 58.9 degrees West or about 315 miles Northeast of St. Maarten. The system was moving Northwest near 17mph with maximum sustained winds near 135mph, making Bill a dangerous Category 4 storm.

However, the EOC stressed that residents living along coastal areas should be vigilant, as hazardous conditions are possible along North- and East-facing shores due to large breaking waves.

It said areas that might be subjected to high seas are Oyster Pond, Guana Bay, Point Blanche, Beacon Hill/airport area, Simpson Bay area, and the Philipsburg/Great Bay beach promenade. Coastal roads may become impassable due to the sea washing sand on the road and motorists should therefore exercise caution.

Also, the Meteorological Service of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba has issued a small craft advisory and a high surf warning. Both will remain in effect until further notice.

Source : The Daily Herald St. Maarten

MIAMI — Tropical storm watches were issued Saturday for the U.S. and British Virgin Islands and other parts of the Leeward Islands as Ana raced west through the Atlantic.

Tropical Storm Bill, the second storm of the Atlantic season, formed farther east and forecasters said they expect it to become a hurricane over the next several days.

The National Hurricane Center said Saturday night that Ana had maximum sustained winds near 40 mph and was moving west near 17 mph. It was about 710 miles east-southeast of the Leeward Islands and was not expected to strengthen in the next 24 hours.

A tropical storm watch means tropical storm conditions are possible, usually within 36 hours.

The government of the Netherland Antilles issued a watch for St. Maarten, Saba and St. Eustatius. The governments of Antigua and Barbuda issued watches for the British Virgin Islands and Montserrat, Antigua, Barbuda, St. Kitts, Nevis and Anguilla.

The Hurricane Center said people elsewhere in the Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico should also monitor Ana’s progress.

Tropical Storm Bill also had maximum sustained winds near 40 mph and was moving west near 16 mph. It was expected to get stronger within the next day or so and was about 905 miles west-southwest of the Cape Verde Islands.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Guillermo was still swirling in the open Pacific but had weakened to a Category 2 storm with winds near 110 mph. Guillermo was expected to weaken further as it headed over cooler waters. It was moving west-northwest near 15 mph and was about 1,685 miles west of the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula.

Click here to monitor the weather situation.

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JetBlue have announced a brilliant new travel pass, although it is for a limited time only (9 September-8 October). The All-You-Can-Jet Pass lets you make unlimited flights anywhere on the JetBlue network for one month for just USD$599.

It is good for travel on more than 600 daily flights to 57 cities on the jetBlue network. Domestic taxes and fees are included for travel within the United States, but you have to pay taxes for flights to Puerto Rico and to international destinations such as the Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Mexico, St Maarten and St Lucia.

You need to be a member of TrueBlue, JetBlue’s frequent flyer program, to use the pass. You earn 35 TrueBlue points when you buy the pass, but the flights you make with the pass aren’t eligible for any points.

This pass is only available for sale until 21 August 2009 (or while stock lasts), it is only valid for flights from 9 September to 8 October 2009, you must book your flights with jetBlue’s call centre at least three days before each flight and you must only book one flight per city per day (in other words just because your flights are free, don’t make multiple bookings you won’t use).

Is it St Bart, St Barts, St Barth, St Barths or St Barthelemy?

St. Barts, also known as St. Barth, St. Barths and St. Barthélemy, is located in the French West Indies and, at eight miles long, is one of the tiniest islands in the entire Caribbean. The local refers to Saint Barthelemy as SBH, which is the island’s airport code.

St. Barths or Saint Barthélemy, with only 7000 residents, has no large resorts, no casinos, no all-inclusives and no golf courses. What the island does have in abundance are beautiful beaches, breathtaking vistas and a fantastic array of wonderful restaurants. The climate is ideal, with temperatures generally ranging from 76 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit and the crystal blue waters have a average temperature of 75 degrees Fahrenheit making them perfect for swimming year round.

St. Barthélemy was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493 and was allegedly named after his brother Bartoloméo. The first plane did not land on the island until the 1940’s when a Dutch pilot, Rémy de Haenen, made a daring landing on the pasture in St. Jean where the airport sits today. The runway was eventually paved but people continued to wait for flights under a tree until a terminal was constructed in the 1980’s.

Although the island has certainly seen development since de Haenen landed on the grass “runway”, it has retained its character and charm.

Unlike most Caribbean vacation destinations, almost half the beds available to St. Barts’ visitors are in privately owned villas, cottages, and apartments.

This is not an accident. Local authorities, to their credit, have long recognized that excessive development is bad for everyone, and have severely restricted the size and style of hotel construction.

All St Barthélemy vacation villas range from moderate to very expensive in price, and from okay to superb in quality. All are informal, quietly chic, and intimate.

Most of the beaches on St. Barts are still commercially undeveloped. Keep in mind that you will probably want a car, and that from anywhere on the island, you can drive anywhere else in less than 20 minutes.

St Barths villa rates are highest during the “Season”, from mid-December until mid-April, and drop substantially during the summer months.

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St Maarten and St Martin´s, Secluded Beaches, Clothing Optional and Naturist Beaches

Orient Bay, or in French “Baie Orientale”, is the most developed, the most popular and the busiest beach on the island. It sweeps around a blue cove, facing northeast. The 2 mile long, white powdered sand beach is protected from the Atlantic waves by a reef, and the bottom has a very gradual slope.

The area has been recognized as a marine reserve, so snorkeling in the marine park is just incredible. The beach is reputed as much for its natural beauty and setting as it is for being the island´s foremost swimsuit optional beach.

The major attraction of Orient Bay is the nude beach and the world´s famous Club Orient (”Club O”), the island´s only naturist resort at the southern end of the beach. Clothing is optional in front of the Club, though the nude beach there is open to the public. The northern end of the beach,  has more clothing, but in fact you may encounter nude sunbathers anywhere. The highest concentration of naked people however is at Club Orient.  Orient Bay actually consists of five main beaches, called the “5 stars of Orient Bay” Kontiki, Kakao, Bikini Beach, Waikiki and Coco Beach, named after their respective beach bars and each next to another.

Legally, except for the Club Orient beach, none of the beaches is officially declared as a nudist beach. The French side widely tolerates nudity as long as it doesn’t have exhibitionist character. The Dutch side tolerance is more restrictive and somewhat accepted at Cupecoy beach.

Cupecoy Beach is a small, clothing optional beach located on the southwest of St Maarten. It is lined with beautiful rock formations and caves. The 10-20 feet high, golden sandstone cliff serves as the backdrop for Cupecoy beach. This rich coral sand carpet is very popular, and if you´d like to find a cave for yourself only, you have to get there early. On the far end of the beach clothing is optional, and over the past years, it seems that Cupecoy Beach has developed into a meeting point for naturists.

There are no restaurants or bars on Cupecoy Beach, but you may see a local guy, type of Rastaman, come by from time to time with a cooler trying to sell you fresh soda or beer. Beach chairs, umbrellas and BBQ are also available. And bars, cafés and resorts of the Cupecoy area are not far away…such as the latest at “The Cliff”

There is a public parking lot on the water side of the road, passed Ocean Club, with stairs down to the beach, one heading to the west, the natural beach. Cupecoy may have a bit rough waters at times, the wind however is blocked by the rocks. The surf usually is a 2-3´ swell, so with pre-school kids, this beach won´t be your best choice. A good time to enjoy this beach is (late) afternoon to watch the sun go down. As Cupecoy beach faces Southwest, there a splendid views of the sunset and the surf.

Petites Cayes is an untouched, gorgeous tropical beach on the very northern shore of French Saint Martin. It is yet another secluded, deserted beach. The only way to this beach is by boat. Or a challenging 35-45 min. hike along the coast. Some romantic sun lovers come even over from Orient Bay by jetski or hobbie cat to relax at this peaceful tropical paradise, where also clothes can go off…

Amazingly, Happy Bay is still a rather unknown, almost undiscovered beach of St. Martin. This may have to do with the fact that the beach is not easily accessible. It can best be reached by driving to Friar’s Bay and walk from there in Northern direction on a small trail along the coast to Happy Bay. It is also accessible from the villas above Happy Bay beach. No bars, restaurants, beach chair rentals – just beach!

Happy Bay lies to the Northwest of the island, between Friar´s Bay and the Bay of Grand Case. And your walk would start at the last beach bar at Friar´s Bay. Your effort to get there will be honored with viewing one of the most breathtaking beaches of the island. If you stay at one of the few villas on Happy Bay, you can use the shortcut down to this great beach!

Secluded Plum Bay, or Baie aux Prunes in French, is just beside Long Bay and well known to surfers. The beach is very little visited during weekdays, although beautiful and without a doubt one of the most peaceful and romantic beaches on the island. At the northern end of the beach is the rock of Plum Bay, a rather pretty site that expands into the Falaise des Oiseaux (Birds´ Cliff). The road of “Falaise des Oiseaux” on the French side of Terres Basses is the access road to the beach. There is a lot of sand, and snorkeling is good, but when you wade into the water, watch out, as corals are just off the beach. If you want to get away from it all, this is one of the most beautifully intimate and calm beaches around the island. At the very western tip of the island, it is also a great romantic sunset spot. Plum Bay is as peaceful as it gets, but bring your own supplies as there are no amenities. There are only few people on the beach, all were wearing clothes…..

To access the Long Bay beach, look out for the entrance of La Samanna Hotel. Continue along the road next to the ponds, and you will see a parking lot on the left. There is also a fenced passage onto the western end of the beach. Starting from La Samanna, the beach continues all the way on to the very western end of St. Martin, where you´ll meet some rock formations as well.
Long Bay, also spelled Longue Bay, Long Beach, or Baie Longue in French, is in the southern part of French Terres Basses/The Lowlands. As the name implies, it is the longest stretch of white sand beach on the island. It is also one of the most quiet, intimate beaches, and the best for sun-worshippers. With its stunning turquoise waters and plenty of privacy, the natural charm of this secluded beach will amaze you. Long Bay is also great for snorkeling, although you won´t find too much coral. Remember that you will have to bring your own supplies to Long Bay beach. There are no watersport activities, no vendors, no amenities, so you can enjoy the privacy and beauty of the bay to the full extent.

Flights are now available for purchase at suncountry.com, Sun Country reservations (1 800 FLY-N-SUN) and travel agencies. In addition to popular destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean, Sun Country will be offering service to winter hot spots in the U.S.

As part of its expanded winter service, Sun Country will offer customers nonstop flights from Minneapolis/St. Paul to the following destinations: Cabo San Lucas, Cancun, Cozumel, Ft Myers, Harlingen, Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo, Mazatlan, Miami, Montego Bay, Orlando, Puerto Vallarta, Punta Cana, and St. Maarten. The flights, which will begin between fall of 2009 and spring of 2010, will be operated with a combination of fuel-efficient Boeing 737 aircraft.

About Sun Country Airlines

MN Airlines, LLC, d.b.a. Sun Country Airlines is based in St. Paul, Minnesota. Sun Country, which has earned a reputation for offering world class service at an affordable price, was recently named in the “Top Ten Domestic Airlines” by Travel+Leisure for the fourth year in a row and Condé Nast Traveler for the third year in a row.  The airline flies to popular destinations in the U.S., Mexico and the Caribbean. For a complete list of destinations and more information, please visit www.suncountry.com.