Tuesday’s press conference regarding the border delineation accord between St. Maarten and St. Martin (see related story) provided some welcome information. The treaty will be signed on May 22.
Its realisation was a complicated matter obviously requiring involvement of the national governments of the Republic of France and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in the latter case the Foreign Affairs and Defence Ministries in The Hague as well as as the local Foreign Relations Department, both the Dutch and St. Maarten Cadasters, along with input from several ministries in Philipsburg including those of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI; Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT); and Justice.
The border at Cupecoy shifts north, as will those along Marigot Hill Road and the road to Oyster Pond, all benefiting the Dutch side. The frontier at Belle Plaine, however, will be adjusted westward in favour of the French side.
Notably, the border will now run through the middle of Oyster Pond, where the dispute that led to negotiations occurred. This is based on a so-called “equidistance” principle regarding the shared body of water.
It was stated that persons to be proportionally impacted by these revisions have been informed and the document ensures relevant authorities will safeguard their rights. How that works in practice remains to be seen, although the locations in question are generally not too densely populated.
Some may disagree with the result, but while details were still being ironed out a final demarcation indeed removes ambiguity to facilitate long-term planning and development. In that sense it should also promote enhanced cross-border cooperation.
Important is, for example, the two sides retaining their right to access, navigation, mooring and artisanal fishing in both Simpson Bay Lagoon and Oyster Pond.
All this leaves untouched the spirit of peaceful coexistence embodied by the 375-year-old Treaty of Concordia with free movement of people and goods. It very much remains “one island, one people” and that must never change.
